Are the posted questions getting worse?

  • Jack Corbett (11/22/2008)


    That would be great to have. Certainly will reduce my time on-line. Look forward to seeing it somewhere.

    I didn't write it. I found it somewhere online. Can't recall name or site right now.

    Yeah, you definitely traveled a loooong way to make it to PASS. Would you do it even if you weren't presenting?

    I registered for the conference in June. I was asked to present in September.

    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
  • But we'd be happy to have Gail write a book if she would 🙂

    A book is a long project, and it's tough. Many, many people struggle with it. I've been called in to finish 3 of them over the last 10 years.

  • Lynn Pettis (11/22/2008)


    Yep, the record's stuck, the record's stuck, the record's stuck, the record's stuck...

    Heh... the kinder gentler me posted on that one, thought better of it, and deleted the post.

    I won't tell you what the real "me" wants to do... 😛

    --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)

  • Steve Jones - Editor (11/22/2008)


    But we'd be happy to have Gail write a book if she would 🙂

    We certainly would. I think, if I recall from some posts or her blog correctly, that she has contributed to a book recently. I would guess that is the first step.

  • Is that true, Gail? Is there a book out there with your good name in it as a co-author?

    --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 (11/22/2008)


    Is that true, Gail? Is there a book out there with your good name in it as a co-author?

    Co-author, no. I've contributed to a book project, that's all.

    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
  • Heh, heh. That's how they transmit the virus. Resistance is futile.:alien:


    Here there be dragons...,

    Steph Brown

  • Jeff Moden (11/22/2008)


    Ok... Going way back to the original post on this thread, lemme ask what you folks think... read the original post on the following thread... don't read the other posts, yet... just read the original post...

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic604064-146-1.aspx#bm604064

    Now, a couple of questions...

    1. Are these questions "interview questions" that someone was asked during an interview, or are these questions that someone was asked on the job?

    2. Should a senior DBA be able to answer those questions without having to resort to a forum?

    3. If you needed answers to those questions, what would YOU do to find the answers? Would you take the time to find out on your own or just post to a forum because you're "too busy"?

    4. Is the person that posted these questions a Sr. DBA in truth or in title only?

    Ok... read down in the posts and find the OP's responses to answer the final question...

    5. Is the OP an arrogant dumba$$ and discredit to the word "DBA" or not? Don't you secretly envision having this dude tied to a chair with a couple of buckets of porkchops at the ready for some point blank range target practice? 😛

    I think that thread is a typical example of what Michael Earl (the OP of this thread) was talking about...

    1. Those sure looked like interview questions, not a "typical" day at the office type of stuff that comes up

    2. Yes & no. Certainly the first question should just start rolling off your tongue, even if you're addressing the issue in a slow, wrong, or inefficient manner, you should have some basic troubleshooting mechanisms. But, on the other hand, my answers to the log shipping question might be along the lines of "I don't know" or "I'd have to hit books online" or "I might post that question." Although, again, the last question should be answerable by a senior dba.

    3. If I needed that information, I'd start with BOL. Then I'd likely look to "Inside TSQL Programming" I think it has a section on log shipping. Then I'd do a Google search to see if anyone I trusted had posted on it. Then I'd do a specific search on MSDN to see if MS has any white papers (they don't show up on Google searches sometimes or are more than the 3-4 pages in I look at normally). Finally, if I were stuck, I would either post here or I might send an email if I knew someone that knew more about log shipping than I did.

    4. That didn't sound like a senior dba to me, no.

    5. I'm pretty hesitant about using the phrase "arrogant dumba$$" on anyone since I feel I far to frequently hit that mark. However, tie him down, I'll toss pork chops.

    "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

  • Jack Corbett (11/22/2008)[/b...Yeah, you definitely traveled a loooong way to make it to PASS. Would you do it even if you weren't presenting?

    PASS is always a hard week because of the jetlag.

    But up intil now it has always been worth the suffering.:w00t:

    I save it as my (only) yearly technical upgrade appart from BOL, SQLforums or some books.

    It's a petty I had to cancel one week before departure 🙁

    Johan

    Learn to play, play to learn !

    Dont drive faster than your guardian angel can fly ...
    but keeping both feet on the ground wont get you anywhere :w00t:

    - How to post Performance Problems
    - How to post data/code to get the best help[/url]

    - How to prevent a sore throat after hours of presenting ppt

    press F1 for solution, press shift+F1 for urgent solution 😀

    Need a bit of Powershell? How about this

    Who am I ? Sometimes this is me but most of the time this is me

  • Jeff Moden (11/22/2008)


    Ok... Going way back to the original post on this thread, lemme ask what you folks think... read the original post on the following thread... don't read the other posts, yet... just read the original post...

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic604064-146-1.aspx#bm604064

    Now, a couple of questions...

    1. Are these questions "interview questions" that someone was asked during an interview, or are these questions that someone was asked on the job?

    2. Should a senior DBA be able to answer those questions without having to resort to a forum?

    3. If you needed answers to those questions, what would YOU do to find the answers? Would you take the time to find out on your own or just post to a forum because you're "too busy"?

    4. Is the person that posted these questions a Sr. DBA in truth or in title only?

    Ok... read down in the posts and find the OP's responses to answer the final question...

    5. Is the OP an arrogant dumba$$ and discredit to the word "DBA" or not? Don't you secretly envision having this dude tied to a chair with a couple of buckets of porkchops at the ready for some point blank range target practice? 😛

    I think that thread is a typical example of what Michael Earl (the OP of this thread) was talking about...

    OK. I just read through all the posts. I can probably go with the AD phrase above because of the guys (I assume it's a guy) wretched responses. I'm too busy to learn how to keep the log from growing? No. I'm actually not too busy to learn that one. I'm too busy to learn how to figure out how to troubleshoot performance issues? You know, again, I'd have to say, no, I'm not too busy to learn that one either.

    Actually, I'm feeling a bit snarky this morning. I'll finish my comments over there.

    "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

  • And yet, there is Gail, answering his questions... Amazing. I wouldn't even bother with a response on one like that.

    "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

  • GilaMonster (11/22/2008)


    Jeff Moden (11/22/2008)


    But none of us has written a book like some of the good folks we know. 😉

    And he's writing another one. A full, published dead-tree book...

    Re-writing one. That means it's only about 500 pages of work instead of the full 600.

    Plus, I know someone else who will be published shortly. Can't wait to read it. Actually, pretty desperate, the deadlock chapter comes up in two weeks! You may see me attempting to answer a few of the deadlock posts as they come up.

    "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

  • Grant Fritchey (11/23/2008)


    OK. I just read through all the posts. I can probably go with the AD phrase above because of the guys (I assume it's a guy) wretched responses. I'm too busy to learn how to keep the log from growing? No. I'm actually not too busy to learn that one. I'm too busy to learn how to figure out how to troubleshoot performance issues? You know, again, I'd have to say, no, I'm not too busy to learn that one either.

    Actually, I'm feeling a bit snarky this morning. I'll finish my comments over there.

    Heh... NOW you understand where I'm going with all of this... folks that post questions like this guy did almost ALWAYS feel that someone owes them a living and then they either remind everyone that they're a Sr. DBA or they have a laundry list of titles after their name. You can just see it coming.

    Heh... I remember... we had ways of dealing with folks like this in Little Rhody... 😉

    ... not that someone like this would have ever made it into our shop. 🙂

    --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 (11/23/2008)


    Grant Fritchey (11/23/2008)


    OK. I just read through all the posts. I can probably go with the AD phrase above because of the guys (I assume it's a guy) wretched responses. I'm too busy to learn how to keep the log from growing? No. I'm actually not too busy to learn that one. I'm too busy to learn how to figure out how to troubleshoot performance issues? You know, again, I'd have to say, no, I'm not too busy to learn that one either.

    Actually, I'm feeling a bit snarky this morning. I'll finish my comments over there.

    Heh... NOW you understand where I'm going with all of this... folks that post questions like this guy did almost ALWAYS feel that someone owes them a living and then they either remind everyone that they're a Sr. DBA or they have a laundry list of titles after their name. You can just see it coming.

    Heh... I remember... we had ways of dealing with folks like this in Little Rhody... 😉

    ... not that someone like this would have ever made it into our shop. 🙂

    Unfortunately, those guys are out there. I don't think most of the people who post here, even the ones that post blatant, obvious, easily found in BOL, questions are like that guy. But there are a few.

    And no, based on his responses, he wouldn't be in our shop either.

    But, no more snark for me. I'll either be patient and kind or ignore them. But I have to say, slapping someone up side the head every so often is just satisying.

    "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

  • Grant Fritchey (11/23/2008)


    Actually, I'm feeling a bit snarky this morning. I'll finish my comments over there.

    Likewise, as my reply to the thread Jeff called out shows. I'll blame it on been around sooooo many SQL professionals and gurus for the last week.

    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

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