May 29, 2012 at 10:16 am
I've found a lot of helpful information on this site. Often when I can't find something in books on line (I suspect because I haven't learned well enough how to put in the right search words), I find it here.
This got me thinking about those of you who do answer questions on this site and wondering what most motivates you to help out.
May 29, 2012 at 10:21 am
I try and reply to stuff I have experience with because I've learned a lot from this site, also...a sort of "pay it forward" type of thing.
<soapbox>
If everyone acted this way I think the world would be a better place to live in.
</soapbox>
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May 29, 2012 at 10:45 am
I had already worked with MS SQL Server for about 8 years when I joined SSC and started getting active on this site. OVer the next 5 years I learned more about SQL Server than I had in the previous 8 years. The people that I have learned from here were (and are) willing to share their knowledge, experience, and time helping me (and others) to become better. As a result, I started giving back as well. But something else I have learned, is that I learn as much from helping others. I get the opportunity to hone skills that I may not use as much in my regular job, to explore areas that aren't currently being used but could be.
One of the things it really comes down to is sharing knowledge with others. This is one area that I think the SQL Server community excels at over any of the other database communities. We aren't hoarding knowledge, we are sharing it freely and without expectations. We want others to benefit from our experience because we benefit from theirs.
May 29, 2012 at 10:45 am
I went through a very rough time when I was first learning how to work with SQL Server. Laregely, as you surmised, because you have to know what to ask before online search can try to answer. Also, online documentation has gotten a LOT better since I started as a DBA in 2001.
I like to help people, and I hated what I had to go through, so I try to ease the pain for others.
There's a LOT to learn to really master SQL Server and it's environments. Nobody can be a master of all of it. Thus, having a community like this one, where different people can help out in different ways, is important to all of us.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
May 29, 2012 at 11:15 am
Two primary reasons. First, to help others through common difficulties we have all had to face at one time or another. Second, frequently I learn subtleties about something when answering questions, so I end up enhancing my own knowledge.
Over time I have also added a third reason. The more forum questions you answer, blogs you write, involvement in local SQL Server user groups, and the more involved you become in the SQL community at large, the stronger a personal brand you will develop. I am at an age where people (especially in IT) really fear being laid off. I think because of my activity within the SQL community that my profile is more visible and respected so that if I am ever faced with joblessness I would have an easier time finding my next job. I do know that if I were in a hiring position and any one of probably several hundred names I recognize from the SQL community were presented to me as a job candidate I would move them right to the top of the list.
May 29, 2012 at 11:17 am
And, by the way, I forgot to say that I am very grateful.
I agree with the 'pay it forward' concept and have done that with my knowledge in the past. Unfortunately, I think it's going to be a while before I can do it very much with SQL.
May 29, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Some of the best learning comes through teaching. This has never been more true to a profession than sql server. The topic is so huge that nobody can master the whole thing. I learn a lot when answering questions. Sometimes the learning comes from working through the solution and other times it comes from others responses to the solutions I post.
My degree is as a developer and by far my weakest subject coming out of school over a decade ago was sql. I studied the forums on here a lot for a long time as a lurker until I started to learn more and more. Eventually I started posting answers to easy questions. The enjoyment of helping somebody through something they found difficult made the whole process a great thing. Eventually I started taking on tougher and tougher threads. I am still pretty selective in the topics I post about and I still learn a great deal.
The best thing about this forum is that the whole environment is one of knowledge sharing. Even when somebody posts something that is wrong, people will correct them and almost always in a professional manner.
Wait a minute...I thought we were supposed to be collecting a paycheck based on post count. I only do this for the money and the fame. 😛
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May 29, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Thanks to all who replied for satisfying my curiosity. I have a lot to learn and I truly appreciate those who take the time to help.
May 30, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I don't remember exactly when I started answering questions, but as almost everyone else has said, I did it because I first learned from this site and wanted to contribute.
As Lynn has said, I learned more once I started to contribute than what I had learned prior to that point.
Jack Corbett
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May 30, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Good question. Some days I ask myself that...
I started because I wanted to get better at SQL, to be faced with problems that I did not have at my job then (was very boring report writing job). You'll see problems here that you will never (hopefully) see at your own job. If you've solved them here, then if they do show up at your job, you look like a miracle worker.
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
May 30, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I started answering SSIS questions just so I could learn more about SSIS.
Every time I didn't know the answer, I researched it on the web (apparently I have better Google skills then some question askers), read some articles/blogs or create a test project in SSIS and try it out myself. I truly learned a lot on this site by answering questions and reading other people's answers.
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May 31, 2012 at 5:10 am
A few reasons:
* I've got the "helper" gene. I try to pitch in & help out. Can't stop.
* It's a great way to learn how to do stuff
* I learn what common problems people are running into for any given technology
* Occasionally, you really help someone and it feels great
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
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May 31, 2012 at 6:26 am
Lots of my reasons have already been said, but I would add that for those of us who are the sole SQL Server person in the company, it's also a kind of company to have discussions with both to learn and to teach/guide/advise.
May 31, 2012 at 9:34 am
Because it makes me a better developer.
I've been working with SQL Server for 3 years (nearly), and have been on this site for the last 2 years. I'm a junior level developer really, but like to think that my T-SQL skills are far beyond that which is directly caused by my participation in the different problems that crop up on this site. I generally answer a question, then wait with anticipation until one of the big hitter's come along and blows my solution out of the water. Then I spend some time digging into their solution, make sure I understand it and then the next time a related issue crops up I have new ideas to throw at it! 😀
This allows me to learn new things in a way that I wouldn't have been able to before. Essentially this site has provided me with the nudges that I would've got from a mentor had I ever had one. So, thanks to you all - question askers and answerers - you've contributed to my learning in a way that will never be repaid 😀
May 31, 2012 at 9:47 am
I have used this site a fair amount to help me with my SQL knowledge and i want to help others like I have been helped. Also when I get the chance, if you get a good post its nice to have a challenge and learn something new whilst helping someone out.
***The first step is always the hardest *******
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