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What are TR members?

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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.

Topic

I think it defines itself

In reply to What are TR members?

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.

so you are saying

In reply to I think it defines itself

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)

What? Me leave from boredom?

In reply to so you are saying

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.

Requirement or not

In reply to What are TR members?

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. 😀

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.

]:)

Wrong. :p

In reply to Requirement or not

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.

Wierd people are everywhere

In reply to Wrong. :p

Hey …. I am alking about the ones in my office that just dont want to learn :p

]:)

“All segments of the IT industry”

In reply to What are TR members?

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.

That’s partly

In reply to “All segments of the IT industry”

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.

and I thank you too

In reply to That’s partly

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’

Huh? I’m reading it and still trying to figure out what you are saying. ?:|

In reply to and I thank you too

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] ]:)

uh…your welcome?

In reply to and I thank you too

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.

Pay Stub????

In reply to “All segments of the IT industry”

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

Are you feeling OK?

In reply to What are TR members?

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 🙂 )

weekend off?

In reply to Are you feeling OK?

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. ]

I had to come back…

In reply to What are TR members?

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

IT snobs should consider

In reply to What are TR members?

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?

well,

In reply to IT snobs should consider

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.

Wow, bitter much? ;-)

In reply to IT snobs should consider

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)

How true!

In reply to Wow, bitter much? ;-)

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 🙂

That’s why love…

In reply to How true!

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!!!

Are you sure…

In reply to IT snobs should consider

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

🙂

does it really matter?

In reply to What are TR members?

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..)

no it doesn’t

In reply to does it really matter?

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. }

Links

In reply to no it doesn’t

None of the post links work Jaqui. TR must have pulled them already.

good

In reply to Links

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~

now, would this be 1 of those?

In reply to good

from a ‘New Discussion’ 15 Apr. 06 [ http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11193-0.html?forumID=4&threadID=193300&start=0 ] sure looks like an advertisement to me….. ?

not quite

In reply to now, would this be 1 of those?

as blatant.

does it really matter?

In reply to What are TR members?

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..)

Book Buyers

In reply to What are TR members?

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

Information Technology affects everybody

In reply to What are TR members?

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.

Bah! I know all!!! ;-)

In reply to Information Technology affects everybody

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!

I AM “Mr. Know-It-All”, get off my title!

In reply to Bah! I know all!!! ;-)

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=192789&messageID=1989322
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=192789&messageID=1994308
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=192105&messageID=1989007

Do you suppose these boys would like me better if I knew less?

Classic

In reply to I AM “Mr. Know-It-All”, get off my title!

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???

:x

In reply to What are TR members?

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11189-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=193306

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