I'm given up

Point value changed by question poster.

My english is not so good but I hope that you understand me.

I agree, but I live with and get gratification from the few who do leave feedback, though I find myself spending less time here.

If you're still interested in helping people at a MODERATED site, click the link after the words "The TechRepublic Technical Q&A design and functionality are licensed from Experts Exchange?, The Knowledge Sharing Company™," below on this page.

I,too, like an exchange of information. While there are problems with this forum, it's still fun in the long run.
Another place to look for an exchange of ideas is:
WWW.WOPR.com

I agree with you 100% and there has been many discussions about the losers that reject everything and never say why. I too send a lot less time on this forum than I used to.

But just today I received a nice feedback and I know that I really helped that person. So, I guess I'll answer some questions for just a slap on the face knowing that I can help some.

Don

I certainly understand your frustration. In fact, there have been times that I even shared that frustration. There are indeed people who are so rude, uncaring and inconsiderate that they’ll take something from you (like a good answer) then kick you in the knee (reject that good answer) for being a sucker. I’ve even gone so far as to calling out some of these people by posting answers to their questions telling them what I think of their behavior.

There was this one case where a person posted a question and assigned a point value of several thousand points. I was the first one to post an answer, but my answer did not address his question. Instead, I told him that he was a schmuck for rejecting all those answers in the past, that he had a 100% rejection rate, and that I’d never answer another one of his questions since he intended to reject it anyway. Of course, he rejected it – as well as the several answers that followed, answers that did address his question. Actually, I was more surprised that anyone else even considered answering that question. Oh well, that’s the way it goes.

However, all that frustration over the abusers pales in comparison to that one grateful and considerate person whowill leave you a nice comment or even send you an email thanking you for your time and effort. I’ve had some wonderful dialogue with quite a few people who use TechRepublic.

Use this site with those kind people in mind, and just try to dismiss the others. It’s kind of like the few people who wouldn’t think twice about cutting you off in traffic and then flipping you off as well.

You’ve provided some great answers – some to my questions as well. Don’t let the jerks ruin your day, or even ruin one of your moments.

I "feel your pain" about this. Quite frankly, I really love it when an answer I researched and posted helps someone out. When they put a quick comment saying how their problem is solved and they are very happy now (since their boss is now happy!), Ifeel good. I really do.
I get e-mails from people often times also, asking for additional help and/or to say thanks on a personal level for assisting them. I always answer these e-mails and talk with these other people who are just like me, trying to get this stupid IT stuff to work!
Getting a pat on the back is very nice. It does make me feel good. I tell my wife about the very nice responces from this great forum.
Then there are those jerks who insult your answers if it does not fix their problem, or they just reject your answer without any explanation. We all have been hit by them. And yes, I wonder if my answer did help out the person, but they were just not thinking about what I want to know, which is "did I help?"
I check the last 20 posted answers I made every day, to see if there has been resolutions in these problems. Did my answer fix your problem? I wonder about this stuff.
So, to just be rejected with no explanation does hurt, just a little.
Now, people like Maxwellleave no doubt on if you helped them or not, and that is good. Feedback works for us who posts answer questions just as much as the feedback we provide helps out the question-posters.
This forum really is a 2-way street. All of us benefit.
Does our venting of our frustrations mean that this problem will be fixed? No.
But at least we all know that we do this to help people out. We know some things about this line of work, and we all want to share this knowledge. That is the benefit. Helping others.
IF the people we help do not appreciate the help, then it is THEIR problem.
There is always another question to answer.

My thoughts on this.
Joe

I agree and sorry to hear that you have become flustered with those members that donot have the mind to post comments or otherwise,in some cases it would be best they did not.
I have been there and at this junture I participate to learn bond and help those that can appreciate the help
So Good Luck

I understand EXACTLY where you're coming from...in fact a couple of months ago I opened a question that was almost identical to yours:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=98685

There was some very good input thereand some of it was definitely worth reading. The really pleasant thing (and the one that made the biggest difference to me) was that even if there are a lot of "ingrates" out there...even if some people get confused with the interface...and some arejust jerks that abuse the system (offering lots of points but having no intention of granting them)...but abve all this are the peers here. I was very pleasantly surprised that several recognized my name and commented on my contributions. These people are here almost every day and give a lot of their time and knowledge to help others freely and being made to feel like I was a part of the "community" meant a lot to me.

That said, I can assure you that I have OFTEN seen your answers here and have learned from them. I, and I'm sure many others, greatly appreciate the wisdom and skill you share on TR. Don't let the bad apples (plentiful as they may be) drive you away from peers who respect you...or even more importantly, from someone who needs a hand that you are skilled enough to offer. That's what it's all about. I could get 10 rejections in an afternoon...but one comment ore-mail saying "Thanks..." and it all seems worthwhile again. The additional bonus, is that in answering the questions (or just in reading over them) you can reinforce the things you do know and pick up on new or better ways to do others.

Don't give up yet, I only recently found this forum and have started using it. There are a lot of people out there who do need some help and are busy searching for that one right answer to help them with what they don't know or overlooked. In two weeks I've had quite a few thank you's and appreciate it's. I'm not an expert yet but all the other answers I've been reading have helped me out quite a bit. I'll be the first to state I appreciate all your input and look forward to more. The Only complaint I have is the personal list of answered questions only seems to show the top 25 or so. It's tough to figure out how they ordered it since it's not by response date/time or by username. I often ask for more information from the person having a problem but they fall off the list and dissappear from the top requests so fast that I feel bad if they did respond and I didn't get another chance at helping them.
Thanks for all the reponses to each of you here, it is nice to find a group of people out to help others and offer opinions on our decisions.

There will always be inconsiderate losers (who don't understand how a simple "thank you" can turn a real loser of a day around for a tech support person), just like there will always losers who want to get something for nothing (even though points don't cost them anything. Unfortunately, this behavior tends to be a fact of life in the business we are in whether you are providing help through this forum, or providing help face-to-face to your users/friends/family, etc. (although at least face-to-face, you're more likely to get a thank you).

For me, it comes down to remembering what I'm here for (to help someone out). Although the numerous rejected answers, lack of comments, and "questions closed" with no points awarded does tend to turn anybody cynical (face it, that's just human nature), the few personal emails I receive from people wanting to express their appreciation for really helping them out of a SERIOUS bind, tend to more than make up for it.

All I can really say is "Stick with it and remember what you are here for." For most of us I think it usually evens out in the end.

Ultimately, I share your frustration. We all do.

Every response should generate at least a "thank you for trying" from the question poster. If we take the time to try and answer a question, that time should be acknowledged with a "this helped" or not. That is only polite.

But not all people are polite... not all people remember to come back and take the time to close out their questions properly (or at all sometimes).

I don't spend a lot of my personal time on TechRepublic anymore. Just at work... when there's a bit of time. I get some sense of satisfaction from researching the problems and typing in some answers. At this point... we all kow that the "points" do not really mean anything. Everyone has "earned" a great deal more "Accepted" answers than they are given from the people that post.

Don't take to heart "rejected" answers. You tried to help. That's all that really matters.

I agree with all the comments posted. In fact, I've seen impossible questions posted, or questions that have no answers at all and wondered to myself is someone is asking such a question just to jerk peoples chains. There people out there who get off on doing just that. Then there are those who truly need advise or help with a problem. I look at questions and answers here in this forum to learn new things or approach a certain problem in a new way or a way I would never have considered.

There are a lot of people out there who operate and work with Windows Networks, Windows operating systems and the lot in small businesses who don't have the luxury of a in-house guru with a MSCE or MSCA or college degree in computer science and don't have the $100.00 an hour to have Microsoft or another tech fix their system. They come to boards such as this seeking immediate solutions to their downed system. It's people like you and the others on this forum who help em out. (This is kinda like dating in a way. Gotta kiss a lot of frogs before you find the (answer).

I agree with you 100%, thease are the same people you face them every day with no respect, no manner
and over all have no sense. just ignor them or keep them in your general mercy.
thanks
MD

I think you people RULE. If it were not for this forum I would be totally screwed. I work as an Access 97/2000 programmer but since I am familiar with computers somehow I get yanked into issues and I have no clue.

It's a small company so people expect me to know the answer just because I am "the computer guy" Hmmm. I just have to deal with it because it's comes with the territory I guess. I answer some questions on the forum if I get lucky enough to stumble upon a easy one.

I have to admit when I first started using Techpro, about three years ago, I did not comment to often. I was not aware of the importance. But to scam people out of points, Techpro should have a black list!

Sorry to hear you are so frustrated. GoodLuck!

As with the others, I also share your pain.

I have decided to look at the forum as a personal challenge. To help keep my mind and trouble-shooting skills sharp.

I have also expanded my knowledge researching some of the questions.

I have made several friends via this forum, and there value exceeds the negative value of all the poor loosers combined.

There are a few peers that I no longer answer the questions they post, even if I know the answer off the top of my head.

Perhaps theworst, are those I have had to tell no, you can't do what you desire to do.

I also, am less apt to search for the answer to a question unless it is posted by someone that I have helped before.

Don't give up, look at the positives your knowledge and insight brings to the forum.
I also believe that you can count most of the peers that have posted to your question as comrades, if not friends.

Chas

Hi I am sorry, but I my have closed a question without comments, but not without points awarded even if the problem was not solved, I awarded the points to the nearest answer or spread across sensible answers. Please keep up the good work all of you.

Rich

To each and every one of us who purchase a computer should have some knowlege of what they are getting into. It is more of what you want out of it not what you put into it. Most people want it for fun and games, but later on what more and have nott he no how about doing so. One can only offer help. They make the dessions for their own knowlege... Good Luck to One and All

I know exactly what you mean, and my answer is simple. when I get upset that people reject me and don't give an explination I don't visit the board for a few days to cool down. Since I know that those people that reject and don't specify what the problem with my answer was, or what the solution was to there problem are the lowest type of computer technician, the one who is only out for "points". But I like helping and I come back. Information should be free.

Salut Florinel
Vreau sa stiu daca putem coresponda prin e-mail.
I'm a newbie in network. Daca vrei poti sa-mi scrii pe adresa horatiu2@hotmail.com
horatiu

I honestly appreciate every bid of feedback I've received from this forum. I like the different viewpoints, and I really appreciate help from people who know areas that I know nothing about. So, I'm always willing to offer my thoughts and solutions to any question I think I may be able to help in, and I don't think I ever even worry about the points and whether people reject my answers or anything like that. I've been doing this long enough that I have enough points to last a long time, so Idon't really care if you reject my answer or not. What does matter is whether someone out there was actually helped. Don't concentrate on the ungrateful folks out there, and maybe you did help in a way. The truth be known, you may never know in this life what good you have done - and everything good done may seem thankless, but in truth it isn't thankless. Do the right thing, and don't worry about where the chips fall. You know - I just got laid off my job a few weeks ago, and you know I did my best - I know that I can walk away knowing my job was done well, and my bosses and VP's were happy with me, and my work was finished and now I have to find something else, and the work I did there and the seeds sown will remain behind. I'll probably never know .. I just have to rest on the hope that I made a difference. That's all you can do here.
Rick

Flo-
I indeed feel you. Some of the people that post questions here are downright rude. I think I answered that 0 point question, what a jerk!

The one thing to remember is there are those (few) folks that deeply appreciate the help and support provided by you and the rest of us. If one person can be helped then it's worth it. The others that you are so fed up are the same people that cut you off in traffic then flip the bird. It's hard but they have to be ignored.

I can tell YOU are attempting to do good in your life and the rewards for this or shall we say "points" come in a different way. The people that you have become fed up with will unfortunatly not realize this untill its too late to turn back.

God Bless

From reading the responses, I think it is safe to say that the majority of us don't come for the "warm-fuzzy" feeling of being appreciated. Many are IT professionals (such as myself) while others may be end users looking for answers and offering a little assistance. I, for one, enjoy the fact that I have helped someone at one time or another. There is a personal satisfaction in knowing you have helped someone. Certainly there are those that "lurk" seeking solutions to their issues. While you may or may not have helped the one that rejected (or just left the answer unrated) your answer, someone else just by reading your solution may benefit. I know I have.

It's annoying to be rejected out of hand, too. But, like I said, I doubt many of us are here for that "warm fuzzy" feeling of appreciation, however nice it may be to receive a simple "thanks, that helped" or whatever. Rather, we are in an industry to help people, share knowledge and learn ourselves. THAT, my friends, is why we come here, at least in part.

I've run public forums in the past. In some cases, anything you say will open you up to ridicule or "flames," as it were. Even on some Tech forums, that is the case. TechRepublic seems to be pretty tame by comparison.

Granted, there are those that just take, take, take without any regard for others. I like the one example about being cut of in traffic. Then once in a while, you will run into someone who waves "thanks" for letting them in front of you. Its that one that actually makes all the negative pale.

I think the stats are kind of an ego booster of sorts. The number of accepted answers compared to rejections. There is a sense of gratification knowing (and seeing) what help you have actually provided.

Despite the disappointment in rejections, consider that you have made SOME difference for someone. Better to make an effort than no effort at all.

Just my 2c

Hi "jdhNV"
Generally you have right, but in ROMANIA we have few words (I don't know how will sound these in English): "he/she missed the first 7 years from home".
This "questions & answers" are not for the "veterans" of this forum but for the "newbie" this feedback can be usefully.

Thank you for all replies.

This question was closed by the author