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What are TR members?

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by jaqui

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

The site is focussed on providing resources for IT Professionals, yes, but is there a requirement that all members be IT Pros?

Or would it be better to say that members [b]should[/b] have an interest in learning about IT?
Not just learning the Windows Security issue of the hour, but all aspects, from what os options there are, to how to configure a workstation to be as secure as possible, without killing the functionality needed for people to get their jobs done.

In my opinion [ which counts for nothing ] the latter is the better definition for membership requirement. After all, we always complain about stupid end users and how they break our systems, so non IT pros using the resources to learn would seem to be a way to stop that from happening, in the long run.

34 replies

by stress junkie

I think people who are interested in the practical side of business IT will hang out here. People who are not interested in business IT issues will be bored and will go away.

by jaqui

that jardinier and oneamazingwriter will leave from boredom?

I'll miss the viewpoint they offer if that happens myself.

I benefit from reading an end users point of veiw on what we see as concerns fairly often. :p

danged typo, need more coffee 8)

by jardinier

Not while Maxwell and myself live on the same planet. :^0

Actually according to one dictionary definition, I used to be an " IT Professional."

[b]"Engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood."[/b]

For a while I used to sell refurbished computers and do a bit of tuition and tech support. So I definitely earned money in this trade, although it was by no means my primary source of income.

I have a registered business name: "Killara Computers."

In my time I have answered quite a few Tech Q & A's at TR. {Although the little box says 10 K, I actually have more than 20 K Tech points).

I stopped the refurbishing business about three years ago, when my interests turned to publishing websites (of which I currently publish seven).

The websites are an expression of the various "strings to my bow."

However as regards people with no technical knowledge, I have been responsible for introducing to TR two persons who have negligible technical knowledge, but enjoyed participating in the miscellaneous discussions.

At various time friends of mine follow the discussions with interest, but choose not to participate.

by stargazerr

people who have no interest whatsoever in learning about IT will either go away by themselves or will become such a headache that they will be kicked out. :D

non IT pros, as I know them so far, have no interest in learning IT as long as they can snap at people like us to fix this and fix that. IT Managers excluded.

]:)

by jaqui

there are a couple of members here that aren't IT pros that stick around because they like this place.

so you do know some non it pros that care enough to learn.

by leee

According to CNET Networks' website, "TechRepublic's members, representing all segments of the IT industry, turn to the site for IT decision support and professional advice."

Granted, nine out of ten TR subscribers report being involved in an IT-related role at work. However, a home user stuck trying to figure out a bug in his XP home machine may discover TR via Google. Although we produce articles on TR with the professional user foremost in mind, many home users--including those professionals who run home-based businesses--often get something out of them too. We aim to be as accessible to readers with all levels of experience--including those ten percent who aren't "IT pros."

Producing a pay stub with a certain IT title printed on it is not required for membership--only an interest in IT, an interest we try to cultivate daily by adding new and (we hope) interesting and useful content.

Keep in mind that a very small minority of readers participate in community discussions, Technical Q&A, etc. If you get more out of TR than technical advice, it's a bonus we're happy to facilitate.

by jaqui

why I posted this, we have a few members that are open about not being IT pros.

Why should it matter? They do contribute to the site, in ways that benefit everyone. Yet there seems to be a recurring theme that they don't belong in their own posts / blog entries because they aren't "Pros".

The articles I have written for here were written with a non IT pro reader in mind, so that those who find TR through google or elsewhere,that are not working in IT, will be able to benefit from them.

by dawgit

no, I'm in 'IT' what-ever that is (still not clear yet) but I think that's the point. It's for the non 'IT' person. (even if one is 'IT' it doesen't mean that they're an expert on everything, ie: someone who's an Linux sys admin, might not know jack about the latest greatest out of Redmond, & visa-versa) So, even if we were all pros, we'd still be all also non 'IT'

by dawgit

No, we couldn't have that....
Than I'd to tell you just who I work for.... no, no.

by dawgit

You sound a littled depresed in this post. Get some coffee, kick MS around a little bit and take a long week-end OFF. (and enjoy :-) )

by jaqui

what are you going on about?

I actually get a paychecque for working weekend evenings.
my "days off" from that are monday and tuesday.
with every other wednesday tossed in. :p
[ go figure, I'm getting a paycheque for security work. ]

by dawgit

There's something simular that's been bugging me too. Same as your question "What is a TR member". Just what is 'IT'? It seems to mean everything nodays. Secutary; no, Adminestrative Ast.; no, Exc,admin; no, now: 'IT'. HR clerk, nope, now 'IT'. Puplic Rel.; now 'IT'. Data entry; 'IT'. Poor computer guy in the back, oh he's 'it'. When I went to college there was no computer science Dept. because there was no 'computer' science. Now almost every 14 year- old is a hacker. (& some are good too) I was fieldin computers in strange places over 20 years ago, and still learning. Am I 'IT' only I have to say so. Otherwise, no, I'm not one of those.... (ok, geekie maybe, a little) I like TR, because here the 'IT' b-s is not here. Just People, some of whom are good with computers. There.......... my 2 euro cents -d

by sleepin'dawg

The only thing I noticed is:
[b]no, I'm in 'IT' what-ever that is (still not clear yet) but I think that's the point.[/b]

You seem to exhibit some confusion as to what IT is and your position within it. The usually accepted definition of a pro is someone who is an expert in some aspect or all aspects of a topic. In the event he is only an "expert" in some specific area; if he knows his limitations and knows where to find other "experts" to take care of the aspects he is unable to; then he might be defined as a Pro.

[b]Dawg[/b] ]:)

by pennatomcat

that, while a paystub MIGHT justify calling yourself a "pro", that doesn't mean that you're an expert. Some of the so-called professionals have a lot to learn.

Example: In my college days, I worked part-time as a computer lab monitor. The network admin that I worked under couldn't understand why the system was so full of virus infections, even though he had installed the latest, greatest antivirus software. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't enough just to install it--he had to set it up to terminate and stay resident. Of course nothing happened--he simply wouldn't listen to advice coming from a lowly student.

In sum, I'll pay attention to useful information coming from anyone, regardless of "pro" status.

Perhaps the IT snobs should take their narrow minds to their own invitation-only mutual adoration forum. Would anyone miss them?

by jaqui

I started this thread to see who thinks that anyone not working in IT shouldn't be a member.

not because I think so, but because it seems to be a misconception of some non it industry members that they don't really belong.

I say they do belong, and do contribute something valuable to the site. Their end user perspective on what "pros" concider issues is important, it helps us learn how to better communicate the issues with the end users we have to work with.

by jmgarvin

The long and the short of it is this:

If an IT "pro" acts that way, they are no pro at all. They actually are hurting the end user and damaging the image of IT pros everywhere.

As a rule I tend to listen to complaints and deal with them on an individual basis. However, I very rarely throw out information based on the percived educational level. That's always really gotten to me.

On that note, as an IT pro (and now a teacher), I tend to look at things (or at least try) from a students perspective rather than from my "higher" knowledege one. It really opens your eyes to why some parts of IT are considered "snobby." (eg it is almost impossible to explain highly complex stuff like a rule based IDS vs learning IDS using baysian learning)

by zlitocook

We may be good at our jobs but the people we work with, doctors, nurses, lawers, ceo's ect are just as good at thier jobs. I learn alot from them and show respect when working with them. I like to hear non IT comments and like working with them.
I get great advice and some good perks if I do good work for them :)

by rayjeff

we haven't worked at the same place before? Are you working at the same place now with me?? Because your post sounds strangly familiar to me

:-)

by shellbot

who cares if one is a "pro". we have our little niche in our so called "it" world and if we can use our experience to help others in reagrds to IT ( networking, programming, project management), career highs/ lows, and life in general..why not.
i receive more knowledge than i give on TR, but when i am more expereinced, I will pass that knowledge back to someone else who is pulling thier hair out or ready to throw thier pc out the window.
i agree that most end users would think we a bunch of geeks and go somewhere else. heck..after downloading and printing several articles alst night to read on the train home i thought " holy sh%t girl", what are you turning into?
Oh TR, look what you've done to me!

Anywho's..just my 7:30 AM ramblings...now off to make pancakes for the kids who had a sleepover here last night...(kids are nothing but pure locusts..)

by jaqui

That is the point. everyone contributes, and every contribution is valuable.

since the discussions see more activity than the blogs do, I posted this to have a clear, public record that anyone who wants to be a member is welcome.

I haven't seen a response otherwise.
[ which is exactly the result I expected, that all are welcome, as long as they are contributing to the site, not spamming it. }

by shellbot

who cares if one is a "pro". we have our little niche in our so called "it" world and if we can use our experience to help others in reagrds to IT ( networking, programming, project management), career highs/ lows, and life in general..why not.
i receive more knowledge than i give on TR, but when i am more expereinced, I will pass that knowledge back to someone else who is pulling thier hair out or ready to throw thier pc out the window.
i agree that most end users would think we a bunch of geeks and go somewhere else. heck..after downloading and printing several articles alst night to read on the train home i thought " holy sh%t girl", what are you turning into?
Oh TR, look what you've done to me!

Anywho's..just my 7:30 AM ramblings...now off to make pancakes for the kids who had a sleepover here last night...(kids are nothing but pure locusts..)

by jaqui

IT = Information Technology [ in the context I used it. ]
That means any piece of equipement used for manipulating, transmitting or storing data.

IT Pro meaning someone who gets paid for any aspect of working with IT, be it maintaining the hardware to enabling the end user or creating a set of scripts designed to display the data in a human readable fashion. [ website design* ]

* I actually don't include flash, activex, ajax or javascript powered websites in a definition of HUMAN READABLE. If a website contains no data that displays without using clientside technology, then it's not human readable, so multimedia websites fail dismally at being concidered human readable.

by nz_justice

I only became a member because it was a requirment to buy a set of books at a good deal. Other wise I would of never willing singed up for the Techrepublic. Or even visted this site, but now I am a member. poor TR. :p

by maxwell edison

I'd be surprised to NOT see a wide range of interest and talent around here. That's one of the neat things about the site, if you ask me. There are scads of people who know more than me about a lot of things, and their knowledge and opinions are literally at my fingertips, all for the asking. Conversely, there are people who seek and/or are interested in some of the things that I know or think. Everybody has something to offer in some regard. Most people are willing to share not only their opinion, but their knowledge.

by jmgarvin

I agree. While sometimes I think I see first hand the Peter principle in action, for the most part people here are intellegent and articulate.

Sure we range from grumpy old farts to grumpy young bucks, but for the most part we get along and pass along good information!

by jaqui

even if none of the staff replied directly, they would have seen the post, or the threads, and pulled them.
I hoped that mentioning them would get them pulled.

~off to edit post to remove links~

by rayjeff

working in higher education. I've worked with so many professors and my knowledge has been a great equalizer. But on the same token, I get to learn from them as well. Yes, learning from others can be a joy, if they don't act like snobs!!!

by jmgarvin

Perhaps this is why we sometimes don't see eye to eye ;-)

If we both are Mr. Know-it-all, then one of us MUST know less than the other :-0

Why do I have a feeling that the global warming thread will turn into the new Evolution Lie???

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