Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Koen Verbeeck SSC Guru Points: 259115 More actions · Answer 1

BWFC (5/23/2014)
Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Koen Verbeeck (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
It is frustrating, but a sad part of our daily routines here at SSC 🙂
Fortunately there is also a number of OPs who communicate their gratitude, and that makes it all worthwhile.
I agree completely. I find I also learn a lot by reading the solutions others have posted. There's some interesting stuff out there I haven't played with at all.
I suppose it's because I'm only now becoming confident enough to answer questions posed by others that I find it a bit frustrating when I don't get a reply. It would be good to have somebody say 'it worked, thank you' so I know I was right. Equally, if it didn't work I'd be able to go back and look again at what I did.

Sometimes the OP has posted his/her question on multiple forums. It's possible he/she got an answer on another forum and just didn't bother to reply on all the other forums.

Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398909 More actions · Answer 2

BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.

Better ignored than argued with incorrectly. Or worse, the "yeah, but we can't change anything, anywhere, anytime, now how do I fix it" responses.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

Ed Wagner SSC Guru Points: 287026 More actions · Answer 3

Grant Fritchey (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
Better ignored than argued with incorrectly. Or worse, the "yeah, but we can't change anything, anywhere, anytime, now how do I fix it" responses.

You sure hit the nail on the head there. "But why is a GUID bigger than an integer?" :w00t:

Tally Tables - Performance Personified
String Splitting with True Performance
Best practices on how to ask questions

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 4

GilaMonster (5/23/2014)
Steve, can anything be done about shrills like this:
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/FindPost1573887.aspx
He's posting on thread after thread on damaged DBs, missing backups, etc, usually talking garbage and with links to that DB recovery software.

Looks like it has been blown away. Dang it.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004414 More actions · Answer 5

BWFC (5/23/2014)
Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Koen Verbeeck (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
It is frustrating, but a sad part of our daily routines here at SSC 🙂
Fortunately there is also a number of OPs who communicate their gratitude, and that makes it all worthwhile.
I agree completely. I find I also learn a lot by reading the solutions others have posted. There's some interesting stuff out there I haven't played with at all.
I suppose it's because I'm only now becoming confident enough to answer questions posed by others that I find it a bit frustrating when I don't get a reply. It would be good to have somebody say 'it worked, thank you' so I know I was right. Equally, if it didn't work I'd be able to go back and look again at what I did.
Ed, you are definitely right about the other answers. Every day I see things that I want to explore.

I've always said that you won't find a better source of real life problem to solve anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, that also means dealing with real life people. As in real life, some are idiots, some are rude, some are "ring knockers", some are bullies, some are just unable to say "thanks" and, many times, it's just because of cultural differences. There are also people that are flat out wrong. While that may seem like a bad thing, it's absolutely not because that's what we all deal with every day at work. If you have the right attitude (it sometimes IS a thankless job but we still do things right), it'll actually make you stronger and a better person at work and maybe even make it so you enjoy your work more. That's not to say that all people are like that and, what I've personally found, is that most people are appreciative of any help they can get.

The side bar to it all (and I never expect it... it just seems to happen) is that you'll get back much more than you could ever put into answering such questions. You've not only given yourself an excuse to possibly research and solve a real life problem you may not have seen before, you'll sharpen your skills in code and in effectively communicating with others, learn from the posting of others where you may not have even looked at such a problem before, and make some incredible professional and personal friendships that will actually last you a lifetime. Done right, you'll also be building your "brand" (which Steve Jones will remind us is incredibly important for our careers) and, someday in the future during a phone interview for a new job, you'll be able to say "Google me" with a great amount of pride. The key is to not let that pride go to your head on the boards or at work. Humility, knowledge, skill (and, yes, they are different), the "right attitude", and the ability to effectively communicate methods and techniques are things that I look for when I interview people for senior positions and I believe that's the underlying criteria that most good employers look for in candidates.

Ah... sorry... didn't mean to get on the soapbox about all that but it is what I believe and I also believe that most of the heavy hitters on this and other forums are made of the same stuff.

As "Red-Green" would say, "We're all in this together and I'm pullin' for ya." 🙂

--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)

david.gugg SSCertifiable Points: 6104 More actions · Answer 6

I can tell you based on my time working ExcelForum.com a few years ago the issue of people asking questions and then not acknowledging answers is certainly not unique to SSC.

Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 7

BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.

Every now and then it would be nice to get a response, but you kinda learn to expect no response.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

jcrawf02 SSC-Insane Points: 24198 More actions · Answer 8

patrickmcginnis59 10839 (5/21/2014)
TomThomson (5/20/2014)
patrickmcginnis59 10839 (5/20/2014)
Lynn Pettis (5/20/2014)
Any one else see this?
http://www.eweek.com/developer/how-java-api-legal-ruling-could-change-coding-forever.html?kc=EWKNLEAU05202014STR2&dni=127035848&rni=23946789
Interesting case, not a very good article, the author even tries to equate open source with public domain which is completely wrong.
i don't much care about the idiocies in the article. I agree it gets that particular point completely wrong, but I think that that's unimportant compared to the news it is delivering.
I think news organizations should get someone familiar with the subject matter to report news items, especially with this one because it IS an important case!
What worries me is that there's a completely loony court decision that - if it ends up being confirmed at a higher level - will leave us with the option of developing software that will never appear in the US market, require us to throw the USA out of all serious international trade and intellectual property agreements, and start trade wars of a sort that we haven't experienced much recently.
Its not an unexpected decision however, the US has been very insistent on granting intellectual property rights as software is a significant slice of US economic life, and the api in question very well may be protected and Google might have goofed up good on this one.
Of course in a way that's nothing much new - the US regularly refuses to follow its treaty obligations in these areas, and suggestions for severe action are getting steadily more and more common - indeed the US consistently refuses to make any attempt to rein in the lunatic behaviour of the US patent office, the utter idiocy of which must eventually lead to serious trade wars unless the US courts wake up and start to deal with the nonsense, and regularly attempts to impose its domestic laws on foreigners acting in their home country.
"Computer programs are protected as literary works within the meaning of Article 2 of the Berne Convention. Such protection applies to computer programs, whatever may be the mode or form of their expression."
But I probably ought not to say such things - after all, most of the audience here are US citizens who regard anything done and accepted by the government in the USA, at least while their party is in charge, as perfectly correct.
LOL

Yeah, that last bit made me laugh too. We regard anything done and accepted by the govt in the USA as what we have to deal with, is pretty much as far as that one can be applied to the group.

---------------------------------------------------------
How best to post your question[/url]
How to post performance problems[/url]
Tally Table:What it is and how it replaces a loop[/url]

"stewsterl 80804 (10/16/2009)I guess when you stop and try to understand the solution provided you not only learn, but save yourself some headaches when you need to make any slight changes."

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 9

Jeff Moden (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Koen Verbeeck (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
It is frustrating, but a sad part of our daily routines here at SSC 🙂
Fortunately there is also a number of OPs who communicate their gratitude, and that makes it all worthwhile.
I agree completely. I find I also learn a lot by reading the solutions others have posted. There's some interesting stuff out there I haven't played with at all.
I suppose it's because I'm only now becoming confident enough to answer questions posed by others that I find it a bit frustrating when I don't get a reply. It would be good to have somebody say 'it worked, thank you' so I know I was right. Equally, if it didn't work I'd be able to go back and look again at what I did.
Ed, you are definitely right about the other answers. Every day I see things that I want to explore.
I've always said that you won't find a better source of real life problem to solve anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, that also means dealing with real life people. As in real life, some are idiots, some are rude, some are "ring knockers", some are bullies, some are just unable to say "thanks" and, many times, it's just because of cultural differences. There are also people that are flat out wrong. While that may seem like a bad thing, it's absolutely not because that's what we all deal with every day at work. If you have the right attitude (it sometimes IS a thankless job but we still do things right), it'll actually make you stronger and a better person at work and maybe even make it so you enjoy your work more. That's not to say that all people are like that and, what I've personally found, is that most people are appreciative of any help they can get.
The side bar to it all (and I never expect it... it just seems to happen) is that you'll get back much more than you could ever put into answering such questions. You've not only given yourself an excuse to possibly research and solve a real life problem you may not have seen before, you'll sharpen your skills in code and in effectively communicating with others, learn from the posting of others where you may not have even looked at such a problem before, and make some incredible professional and personal friendships that will actually last you a lifetime. Done right, you'll also be building your "brand" (which Steve Jones will remind us is incredibly important for our careers) and, someday in the future during a phone interview for a new job, you'll be able to say "Google me" with a great amount of pride. The key is to not let that pride go to your head on the boards or at work. Humility, knowledge, skill (and, yes, they are different), the "right attitude", and the ability to effectively communicate methods and techniques are things that I look for when I interview people for senior positions and I believe that's the underlying criteria that most good employers look for in candidates.
Ah... sorry... didn't mean to get on the soapbox about all that but it is what I believe and I also believe that most of the heavy hitters on this and other forums are made of the same stuff.
As "Red-Green" would say, "We're all in this together and I'm pullin' for ya." 🙂

Off the soapbox and back to work for Santa...

But on a serious note, well said Jeff.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 10

I could use some assistance over here: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1574043-146-1.aspx.

Thanks in advance.

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398909 More actions · Answer 11

Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Grant Fritchey (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
Better ignored than argued with incorrectly. Or worse, the "yeah, but we can't change anything, anywhere, anytime, now how do I fix it" responses.
You sure hit the nail on the head there. "But why is a GUID bigger than an integer?" :w00t:

Cause the integer fragments more when called nonsequentially or something.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

Ed Wagner SSC Guru Points: 287026 More actions · Answer 12

Jeff Moden (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Koen Verbeeck (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
It is frustrating, but a sad part of our daily routines here at SSC 🙂
Fortunately there is also a number of OPs who communicate their gratitude, and that makes it all worthwhile.
I agree completely. I find I also learn a lot by reading the solutions others have posted. There's some interesting stuff out there I haven't played with at all.
I suppose it's because I'm only now becoming confident enough to answer questions posed by others that I find it a bit frustrating when I don't get a reply. It would be good to have somebody say 'it worked, thank you' so I know I was right. Equally, if it didn't work I'd be able to go back and look again at what I did.
Ed, you are definitely right about the other answers. Every day I see things that I want to explore.
I've always said that you won't find a better source of real life problem to solve anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, that also means dealing with real life people. As in real life, some are idiots, some are rude, some are "ring knockers", some are bullies, some are just unable to say "thanks" and, many times, it's just because of cultural differences. There are also people that are flat out wrong. While that may seem like a bad thing, it's absolutely not because that's what we all deal with every day at work. If you have the right attitude (it sometimes IS a thankless job but we still do things right), it'll actually make you stronger and a better person at work and maybe even make it so you enjoy your work more. That's not to say that all people are like that and, what I've personally found, is that most people are appreciative of any help they can get.
The side bar to it all (and I never expect it... it just seems to happen) is that you'll get back much more than you could ever put into answering such questions. You've not only given yourself an excuse to possibly research and solve a real life problem you may not have seen before, you'll sharpen your skills in code and in effectively communicating with others, learn from the posting of others where you may not have even looked at such a problem before, and make some incredible professional and personal friendships that will actually last you a lifetime. Done right, you'll also be building your "brand" (which Steve Jones will remind us is incredibly important for our careers) and, someday in the future during a phone interview for a new job, you'll be able to say "Google me" with a great amount of pride. The key is to not let that pride go to your head on the boards or at work. Humility, knowledge, skill (and, yes, they are different), the "right attitude", and the ability to effectively communicate methods and techniques are things that I look for when I interview people for senior positions and I believe that's the underlying criteria that most good employers look for in candidates.
Ah... sorry... didn't mean to get on the soapbox about all that but it is what I believe and I also believe that most of the heavy hitters on this and other forums are made of the same stuff.
As "Red-Green" would say, "We're all in this together and I'm pullin' for ya." 🙂

Very well put on several points, Jeff. And you're right. On another note, why am I not surprised that you know what "quando omni flunkus moritaki" is? 😀

Tally Tables - Performance Personified
String Splitting with True Performance
Best practices on how to ask questions

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004414 More actions · Answer 13

Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Jeff Moden (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Ed Wagner (5/23/2014)
Koen Verbeeck (5/23/2014)
BWFC (5/23/2014)
Does anybody else feel a bit frustrated when there is no response from the OP after you post an answer to a question? I know that this is a global site and people work all kinds of hours and shifts but it would be nice to have had some kind of reply after a couple of days. Even if this reply is, 'what you suggested doesn't work. Have you got any other ideas?' That would be better than nothing. I'd like to think that the OP hasn't come back because my answer was exactly what they wanted and nothing further needed to be said, in this case a thank you would be appreciated.
It is frustrating, but a sad part of our daily routines here at SSC 🙂
Fortunately there is also a number of OPs who communicate their gratitude, and that makes it all worthwhile.
I agree completely. I find I also learn a lot by reading the solutions others have posted. There's some interesting stuff out there I haven't played with at all.
I suppose it's because I'm only now becoming confident enough to answer questions posed by others that I find it a bit frustrating when I don't get a reply. It would be good to have somebody say 'it worked, thank you' so I know I was right. Equally, if it didn't work I'd be able to go back and look again at what I did.
Ed, you are definitely right about the other answers. Every day I see things that I want to explore.
I've always said that you won't find a better source of real life problem to solve anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, that also means dealing with real life people. As in real life, some are idiots, some are rude, some are "ring knockers", some are bullies, some are just unable to say "thanks" and, many times, it's just because of cultural differences. There are also people that are flat out wrong. While that may seem like a bad thing, it's absolutely not because that's what we all deal with every day at work. If you have the right attitude (it sometimes IS a thankless job but we still do things right), it'll actually make you stronger and a better person at work and maybe even make it so you enjoy your work more. That's not to say that all people are like that and, what I've personally found, is that most people are appreciative of any help they can get.
The side bar to it all (and I never expect it... it just seems to happen) is that you'll get back much more than you could ever put into answering such questions. You've not only given yourself an excuse to possibly research and solve a real life problem you may not have seen before, you'll sharpen your skills in code and in effectively communicating with others, learn from the posting of others where you may not have even looked at such a problem before, and make some incredible professional and personal friendships that will actually last you a lifetime. Done right, you'll also be building your "brand" (which Steve Jones will remind us is incredibly important for our careers) and, someday in the future during a phone interview for a new job, you'll be able to say "Google me" with a great amount of pride. The key is to not let that pride go to your head on the boards or at work. Humility, knowledge, skill (and, yes, they are different), the "right attitude", and the ability to effectively communicate methods and techniques are things that I look for when I interview people for senior positions and I believe that's the underlying criteria that most good employers look for in candidates.
Ah... sorry... didn't mean to get on the soapbox about all that but it is what I believe and I also believe that most of the heavy hitters on this and other forums are made of the same stuff.
As "Red-Green" would say, "We're all in this together and I'm pullin' for ya." 🙂
Very well put on several points, Jeff. And you're right. On another note, why am I not surprised that you know what "quando omni flunkus moritaki" is? 😀

BWAAAA-HAAAA!!!! "Carpe Ductum!" my friend! 😛

--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)

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 14

SQLRNNR (5/23/2014)
GilaMonster (5/23/2014)
Steve, can anything be done about shrills like this:
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/FindPost1573887.aspx
He's posting on thread after thread on damaged DBs, missing backups, etc, usually talking garbage and with links to that DB recovery software.
Looks like it has been blown away. Dang it.

If you're curious, it was referencing this http://www.sqlrecoverysoftware.net/blog/sql-database-in-recovery-mode.html (very intentionally not created as a link)

For homework, see how many errors you can find in that article 😀 :hehe: 😉

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

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 15

GilaMonster (5/23/2014)
SQLRNNR (5/23/2014)
GilaMonster (5/23/2014)
Steve, can anything be done about shrills like this:
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/FindPost1573887.aspx
He's posting on thread after thread on damaged DBs, missing backups, etc, usually talking garbage and with links to that DB recovery software.
Looks like it has been blown away. Dang it.
If you're curious, it was referencing this http://www.sqlrecoverysoftware.net/blog/sql-database-in-recovery-mode.html (very intentionally not created as a link)
For homework, see how many errors you can find in that article 😀 :hehe: 😉

K, I've seen that link. I actually followed it once and found it to be pitiful. Since then I have been reporting those links as spam.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events