Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Eirikur Eiriksson SSC Guru Points: 182937 More actions · Answer 1

Jeff Moden (7/3/2016)
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/2/2016)
Spam, spam and again spam 🙁 Why on earth is it so hard to tackle this problem on sqlservercentral.com???
😎
From what I've heard, it's because they don't have the Developer time to come up with an effective solution to protect the world's most active set of forums dedicated to SQL Server. Besides, how else would you achieve a "community of 1,861,819 DBAs, developers and SQL Server users"? Seems like there's no incentive and no one believes that "slow" bots have figured it out. :sick:

Thought as much, spend the first minutes in the morning discarding all the spam on an android tablet as it is much quicker than the Windows interface, good thing is that it keeps my older tablets fully charged 😉

😎

Phil Parkin SSC Guru Points: 247037 More actions · Answer 2

tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware

I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 737004 More actions · Answer 3

Jeff Moden (7/3/2016)
Eirikur Eiriksson (7/2/2016)
Spam, spam and again spam 🙁 Why on earth is it so hard to tackle this problem on sqlservercentral.com???
😎
From what I've heard, it's because they don't have the Developer time to come up with an effective solution to protect the world's most active set of forums dedicated to SQL Server. Besides, how else would you achieve a "community of 1,861,819 DBAs, developers and SQL Server users"? Seems like there's no incentive and no one believes that "slow" bots have figured it out. :sick:

This is a hard problem. Forums all over the world have issues with spam, constantly. Quite a few bloggers have turned off comments, and plenty of large sites, Facebook, etc. have problems with this.

We do clear them off, but if you're subscribed to forums and constantly looking at links, you're going to see the SPAM items before we clean them.

Also, as we've evolved, so have spammers. They change tactics, so there is a race here, and sometimes it's easier to work with what we know than change things and then have a new issue.

There is a project kicking off to look at forum changes in general, which should include some SPAM changes.

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

Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/5/2016)
Also, as we've evolved, so have spammers. They change tactics, so there is a race here, and sometimes it's easier to work with what we know than change things and then have a new issue.

Try training a couple of machine learning algorithms to identify spam?

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

Michael L John One Orange Chip Points: 27069 More actions · Answer 5

Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.

I passed QA on. What he decides to do, I will let you know. Thanks!!!

Michael L John
If you assassinate a DBA, would you pull a trigger?
To properly post on a forum:
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/61537/

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 737004 More actions · Answer 6

GilaMonster (7/5/2016)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/5/2016)
Also, as we've evolved, so have spammers. They change tactics, so there is a race here, and sometimes it's easier to work with what we know than change things and then have a new issue.
Try training a couple of machine learning algorithms to identify spam?

Yikes, I would hope our SPAM filter has these. Integrating this into the system would be an idea, but likely a medium sized project.

I have to say that we are very, very cautious about false positives here.

Neil Burton SSC-Insane Points: 23028 More actions · Answer 7

Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.

I'll third QA. The Tower Bridge location is in a pretty spectacular spot. It's hard not to feel like a a tourist when you can see Tower Bridge out of one window and the Tower of London out of another.

On two occasions I have been asked, "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
—Charles Babbage, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

How to post a question to get the most help http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537

ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 8

BWFC (7/6/2016)
Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.
I'll third QA. The Tower Bridge location is in a pretty spectacular spot. It's hard not to feel like a a tourist when you can see Tower Bridge out of one window and the Tower of London out of another.

Ahah, I know where you are now, I had a couple of gigs in that building some years ago. Quite spectacular isn't it - and one of London's best pie & Mash shops isn't too far away.

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

Neil Burton SSC-Insane Points: 23028 More actions · Answer 9

ChrisM@Work (7/6/2016)
BWFC (7/6/2016)
Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.
I'll third QA. The Tower Bridge location is in a pretty spectacular spot. It's hard not to feel like a a tourist when you can see Tower Bridge out of one window and the Tower of London out of another.
Ahah, I know where you are now, I had a couple of gigs in that building some years ago. Quite spectacular isn't it - and one of London's best pie & Mash shops isn't too far away.

International House? Is that the one?

I'm not sure about pie and mash, I think the liquor put me off a bit. Maybe I was just in the wrong shop.

On two occasions I have been asked, "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
—Charles Babbage, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

How to post a question to get the most help http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537

tindog SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4892 More actions · Answer 10

BWFC (7/6/2016)
ChrisM@Work (7/6/2016)
BWFC (7/6/2016)
Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.
I'll third QA. The Tower Bridge location is in a pretty spectacular spot. It's hard not to feel like a a tourist when you can see Tower Bridge out of one window and the Tower of London out of another.
Ahah, I know where you are now, I had a couple of gigs in that building some years ago. Quite spectacular isn't it - and one of London's best pie & Mash shops isn't too far away.
International House? Is that the one?
I'm not sure about pie and mash, I think the liquor put me off a bit. Maybe I was just in the wrong shop.

I think that's the one...by the docks?

I'm hoping to do their analysis services course this year.

ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 11

BWFC (7/6/2016)
ChrisM@Work (7/6/2016)
BWFC (7/6/2016)
Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.
I'll third QA. The Tower Bridge location is in a pretty spectacular spot. It's hard not to feel like a a tourist when you can see Tower Bridge out of one window and the Tower of London out of another.
Ahah, I know where you are now, I had a couple of gigs in that building some years ago. Quite spectacular isn't it - and one of London's best pie & Mash shops isn't too far away.
International House? Is that the one?
I'm not sure about pie and mash, I think the liquor put me off a bit. Maybe I was just in the wrong shop.

Yep that's the one. Here's the pie & mash[/url], supposedly one of the best. I guess you like the liquor or you don't. It's only parsley sauce, using eel-cooking liquor as stock. I love it, but I know folks who don't, and compare it, unfairly I think, to snot.

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

Thomas Rushton SSC-Insane Points: 22649 More actions · Answer 12

Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???

The last training I did was with Firebrand - a good experience.

Disclaimers: That was a few years ago (2009), and for Prince2 rather than technical stuff.

Thomas Rushton
blog: https://thelonedba.wordpress.com

Neil Burton SSC-Insane Points: 23028 More actions · Answer 13

ChrisM@Work (7/6/2016)
BWFC (7/6/2016)
ChrisM@Work (7/6/2016)
BWFC (7/6/2016)
Phil Parkin (7/5/2016)
tindog (7/5/2016)
Michael L John (7/5/2016)
Can anyone in the U.K. (or is it K minus U these days?) make a recommendation for technical training? We have a colleague in London who's looking at New Horizons for some VMware training.
In the states, I have pretty low opinion of New Horizons.
I recommended Pluralsight. Anyone else have any recommendations???
I attended a week-long course with QA (based in London, Tower Bridge I think?) last year and thought they were really good, the instructor was really knowledgeable and charismatic. Materials could have gone into greater depth in some areas perhaps, slow-paced in some parts as is usual with classroom training. May be worth seeing if they do the course your colleague needs: https://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/vmware
I will second QA. Had a couple of training courses with them in the past and they were excellent.
I'll third QA. The Tower Bridge location is in a pretty spectacular spot. It's hard not to feel like a a tourist when you can see Tower Bridge out of one window and the Tower of London out of another.
Ahah, I know where you are now, I had a couple of gigs in that building some years ago. Quite spectacular isn't it - and one of London's best pie & Mash shops isn't too far away.
International House? Is that the one?
I'm not sure about pie and mash, I think the liquor put me off a bit. Maybe I was just in the wrong shop.
Yep that's the one. Here's the pie & mash[/url], supposedly one of the best. I guess you like the liquor or you don't. It's only parsley sauce, using eel-cooking liquor as stock. I love it, but I know folks who don't, and compare it, unfairly I think, to snot.

I must have had a dodgy shop then. It certainly wasn't that one. I think it was out near Crystal Palace. I'll certainly give it another try. I like pies, I like mash and I like eels so why not?

I don't get down to London very often though and it's unlikely I'll be getting there on the company's ticket this year. Although Mrs B has never been and we keep saying we should visit.

On two occasions I have been asked, "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
—Charles Babbage, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

How to post a question to get the most help http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537

drew.allen SSC Guru Points: 77004 More actions · Answer 14

jasona.work (6/30/2016)
So when September rolls around, I'm going to a convention in Toronto, Ontario (Canada,) FanExpo. It's a Comic book / movie / anime sort of convention, and they've been announcing guests for the last couple months. The pace on the guest announcements has been picking up, with a new one today...
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker!)
There's also going to be other big names like:
Stan Lee
Sigourney Weaver
Christopher Lloyd
Adam West
Burt Ward
Gads I'm looking forward to this...

Have fun. I just got back from the gay square dance convention in Toronto. It was a lot of fun. I was too busy dancing to do much exploring, though.

Drew

J. Drew Allen
Business Intelligence Analyst
Philadelphia, PA

jasona.work SSC Guru Points: 50127 More actions · Answer 15

drew.allen (7/6/2016)
jasona.work (6/30/2016)
So when September rolls around, I'm going to a convention in Toronto, Ontario (Canada,) FanExpo. It's a Comic book / movie / anime sort of convention, and they've been announcing guests for the last couple months. The pace on the guest announcements has been picking up, with a new one today...
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker!)
There's also going to be other big names like:
Stan Lee
Sigourney Weaver
Christopher Lloyd
Adam West
Burt Ward
Gads I'm looking forward to this...
Have fun. I just got back from the gay square dance convention in Toronto. It was a lot of fun. I was too busy dancing to do much exploring, though.
Drew

We've been to Toronto several times in the past and done some exploring. It's a fun city and I'd *love* to have some of the stuff that's in Toronto much closer to home (heck, I'd be happy with it over in Windsor, across the river from Detroit)

The wife and I are looking forward to going, we're even going outside our usual comfort zone and giving AirBnB a try (and thanks to all the commenters when I asked about it!) to save some $$$ on lodging (our usual hotel ~ $600 for that weekend, the AirBnB host ~ $160. You do the math!)