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Tech Q&A Subjects

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by porsha

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In the Technical Q&A does anyone else notice that some people are clearly asking questions in the wrong subject areas? I don't just mean they've got it slightly wrong as in posting in Network Design rather than Network Management, but posting it themost bizarre places.
Like today when I looked in Classroom techniques there was a question on Data warehousing and one on Tape Devices!
To me that's just odd, surely they'd get a quicker answer if they posted in a more relevant area?
Or is it just me that's odd for thinking too much about this and then posting?

6 replies

by tomsal

Anyone ever bother (just for the sake of curiousity or for the "heck" of it?) to check out some of the answers that get awarded points?

I'm not talking about those auto closed - I know how that happens, I'm talking about the ones that are answered relativity quickly and the person who posted the question actually awards points for answers that aren't complete enough, aren't clear or in some cases just wrong!

I will admit I haven't checked out alot, maybe a dozen through the last 6 months or so.

Its amusing to me - people award points (wish I admit are worthless, which on another subject - how Tech Republic blantantly lied about the whole point structure - it CLEARLY IN PLAIN ENGLISH stated you can trade points for merchandise whenI joined way back when -- nearly 2 years ago, when you pose that question now the staff act like you are nuts and they never said or heard of such a thing...oh well...so much for my chance to get a cheap mouse pad and $2.00 shirt (that they'd also offer for SALE at $25.00) so I can advertise for them..lol)----

what was I saying? oh yeah... people award points aimlessly and it appears to me that several don't even research/test the solutions given and they just go "oh ok..well that SOUNDS right...it MUST be! here's 50000 points".

The bad part is new comers and perhaps some others assume that though points are worthless in the material world, they are used as a judge of how helpful a person is. Assuming more points means "this person must help out a lot on the Tech Q & A and know his stuff". I *WAS* impressed by the few members with six digit tech points, now I'm not impressed any more as to me the tech point system is very worthless - because points are given so freely for unqualified answers.

Me?

I research and/or test all answers to my questions BEFORE I give any points.

by shiny_topadm

I, too, have seen that effect. I wonder if the subject areas aren't clear enough or are somehow too confusing in scope (from the point of view of someone with a primary language other than English). I think it's also possible that someone is asking a question (in a hurry) and hasn't really reviewed this whole site. I've been reading this for a long time (thru several versions), so my opinion of what makes sense may not be the same as a neophyte reader. There have been (in my opinion) many "discussion" entries that would have been better suited to a categorized Tech Q&A question, but that's just me...

by ebob

That is, items posted over in Q&A which really should be in Discussions.

I wish I could seriously consider that it was a problem of language, but too often I see posts in the "wrong area" from sources where this is definitely not the issue.

Notelling (I figure) why that is. Sort of like that driver you encountered on the way home last night who just HAD to make the LEFT turn, from the RIGHT-hand lane, right THERE, right THEN. And you wished they would expend just a FEW cycles thinking about before they pull out in front of oncoming traffic (including you/me).

by radiic

How about this forum>? DISCUSSION CENTER. Where we discuss stuff not answer Technical questions.

I dont know about you but it is starting to bug me that so many people are posting questions in the discussion area that really should be in the Tech QA area.

Maybe its just me ;0

Rad

by porsha

Scrolling through the new discussin pages it seems that (imho)the majority of the 'discussions' people have posted in there are questions.
On my quieter days at work I find it quite frustrating to have to scan so many posts for a real discussion toread. Perhaps the frustration is just my own fault though for not doing enough work!
:-)

by tomsal

Though increasingly rare, I do get an occassional quite day at work - where I'm caught up on all projects, the hardware is working perfectly for all, the software isn't choking - the planets are in proper alignment, etc...

On those days (like today - we are half staff for Easter, half staff again Monday) I browse through discussions.

Mostly they are questions. I'm not totally against this though, I've done it myself. Why? Right or wrong...I largely think you get better replies in discussion than Tech Q&A.

People pay more attention or something, I don't know what it is - but I've found more help in discussions than Tech Q&A.

You are right though, sometimes it gets annoying - which the questions that are asked.

um....I'm goingto post "How do you format a pre-formatted disk" discussion now...take care.

;)

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