Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

I used to have some of mine in my sig. Not a laundry list. Just 2 or 3. I put them there after a bad experience (on another forum) where a poster decided I wasn't 'expert' enough to answer his question. (Ok, I wasn't an expert. That was 4 years ago)

Took them out a couple months back. They just don't mean that much to me anymore.

If people want to advertise certs, fine. Advertise the relevant ones (ie the SQL ones) but then realise that people will take those into account when looking at your questions/answers. If you have every SQL certification that exists but don't know that the transaction log needs backing up, there's a problem and people replying may well be harsher than they would be otherwise.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 2

I find it's an unnecessary form of "ring knocking"... especially if you only have 4 visits, 1 post, and have never answered a question on the forum... then, it's just arrogance.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 3

Lynn Pettis (11/29/2008)
I just find it pretentious to list all those certs. It begs the question, who is he trying to impress.

Probably himself. Seriously. It's easy enough to forget, but it can be embarrassing to have to ask for help, especially in public and especially in an area that is supposed to be your professional expertise. And this can be an intimidating place sometimes, there are a lot of MVP's and other heavyweights who can make even the lurkers feel dumb without intending too.

And I'll freely admit that it embarrasses me too. Like everyone else, I don't know everything, even in SQL Server (well, Gail might know everything, she's pretty darn close), however, when I cannot figure something out for myself in a reasonable time I might post it here (I'm not going to post it somewhere else, right?). The thing is, I always feel like I'm damaging my credibility by having to ask. And that's me, I've got a lot of points over on the left to make me feel better.

So, I am sure that some of the stuff that we see (list of certs, titles, "Senior" titles, posturing, constraints about how we should answer them, etc.) are really just insecurity and embarrassment coming out. The best fix for that is to treat them with respect, and they usually get over it.

Mind you, I certainly understand the need to blow off some steam, too... 😀

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 4

rbarryyoung (11/29/2008)
Like everyone else, I don't know everything, even in SQL Server (well, Gail might know everything, she's pretty darn close)

Hell, no! Plenty areas I don't know well (and that's ignoring BI).

Have you seen me answer an xml question recently?

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 5

GilaMonster (11/29/2008)
Hell, no! Plenty areas I don't know well (and that's ignoring BI).
Have you seen me answer an xml question recently?

Heh, I just assumed that you were leaving something for the rest of us.

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Jonathan Kehayias One Orange Chip Points: 26778 More actions · Answer 6

Heh, after reading this post, maybe I should reconsider having my MCITP/MVP on my signature. I certainly don't care to impress anyone, or need my ego boosted, but I guess it also doesn't establish that I know anything since anyone can put anything in their signature. Like Gail, I put it on my signature after having my level of technical competence questioned answering a complicated question on another forum.

The level of quality of posts has gotten worse over the last year, as has the level of professionalism from people who are seeking the help of others for free. I'll never understand the attitude that I see people take, when the post a simple question and someone posts a BOL reference instead of just spoon feeding them the answer.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 7

rbarryyoung (11/29/2008)
GilaMonster (11/29/2008)
Hell, no! Plenty areas I don't know well (and that's ignoring BI).
Have you seen me answer an xml question recently?
Heh, I just assumed that you were leaving something for the rest of us.

I gotta agree with THAT! Gail is everywhere!

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 8

Jonathan Kehayias (11/29/2008)
I'll never understand the attitude that I see people take, when the post a simple question and someone posts a BOL reference instead of just spoon feeding them the answer.

Which person's attitude? The person asking or the person providing the BOL reference? Hard to tell from what you've written... I think you're talking about the attitude of the person asking.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 9

Sometimes even those of us with lots of points to left need help. Heck, I think I even have seen Jeff post a question or two here.

I was stumped with a performance issue with our PeopleSoft Financial software after upgrading the database to SQL Server 2005. We tried traces, and DTA, updating stats with a full scan, heck even threw in the kitchen sink and still had a performance issue. Our PeopleSoft Admin figured out how to use some of the PeopleSoft tools to trace SQL from the other side, and guess what, we found a table (with 200,000 rows) that had no indexes. Mind you, this table hadn't changed in the upgrade so it had no indexes under SQL Server 2000 but didn't cause any problems. After looking at the query, put an appropriate index on it, and there went our performance issue.

Also goes to show what several people on this site have said about DTA, it doesn't always work.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 10

Lynn Pettis (11/29/2008)
Sometimes even those of us with lots of points to left need help. Heck, I think I even have seen Jeff post a question or two here.

Yep... but when we do ask a question, we're not arrogant and we do try to include some details to make it easier on the folks we hope to have help us. Certainly, none of us brag, in any form, about how smart we think we are or what our pedigree is especially when we're the ones asking the question. And, even when someone tell's us something obvious but not helpful, we still thank those folks for trying.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004339 More actions · Answer 11

What's really amazing to me is that this thread has taken over 5,000 hits. D'ya s'pose anyone is actually learning anything for this? We can only hope.

Good chattin' with you folks. If you're in the U.S.A., I hope you're lovin' the long weekend as much as me.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 12

I am definitely enjoying my 5 day weekend (except having to get up at 3:00 AM Friday morning!)!

Wouldn't it be great to get what we get paid and only have to work 2 days a week all the time??

to all in the USA, hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day (and have plenty of turkey to keep you til Christmas)!

Jonathan Kehayias One Orange Chip Points: 26778 More actions · Answer 13

Jeff Moden (11/29/2008)
Jonathan Kehayias (11/29/2008)
I'll never understand the attitude that I see people take, when the post a simple question and someone posts a BOL reference instead of just spoon feeding them the answer.
Which person's attitude? The person asking or the person providing the BOL reference? Hard to tell from what you've written... I think you're talking about the attitude of the person asking.

The person asking. It is almost amazing to me to see someone ask for help and then tell a Jeff Moden or Matt Miller, or Gail Shaw that "If I wanted a @#$%#$% to post a reference to the books online I would have done a search myself." or some other inappropriate response similar to this.

Jonathan Kehayias One Orange Chip Points: 26778 More actions · Answer 14

I am not beyond asking for help either. I have answered thousands of posts on various forums, but there are times where I need help, and it is rarely something trivial. However, the answers come from some of the least expected places at times. I don't think someone should be intimidated by my status as a MVP or that I have my MCITP. Everyone has different experiences in different areas. Mine happen to cover almost all topics related to being a DBA, and administering the Database Engine, but there are always things that I have yet to experience, and someone who has had "said problem" before should feel safe responding, especially if they have read my posts, because I am generally fine with being wrong, and happy to admit it when it happens.

Jonathan Kehayias One Orange Chip Points: 26778 More actions · Answer 15

Also loving the long weekend. My wife has had me moving furniture around the house consolidating the family room and living room into a single living room, and moving the dining room to where the family room used to be, but it is still nice to get a break.