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Using Tech Republic in your work

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by margarer

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As a sociologist I`m facinated by and interested in virtual communities like Tech Republic.

In my search for thorough knowledge (for social research on the subject)
I hope some of you will give me your thoughts/opinions on:

- how do you useTech Republic; work or pleasure?
- what do you feel you attain by participating (compared to not participating)?

Thanks,
Margareth H. Roed

You can also contact me by e-mail: margarer@stud.ntnu.no

21 replies

by prefbid ii

To me this is strictly work related. I have other hobbies and interests to pursue for my pleasure time. I feel that if I want to get my questions answered, I must contribute at least some of my time responding to other people and their issues.

I poke around a few times a week just to see what is going on. The last few weeks I've had a little more time than normal and I have poked around a little more too.

I think there is a perspective to be gained through a forum like this that may not be possible in just one company. I know that there are technology questions that I can ask around my office, but the answers will always be related in some way to "the way we've always done it." In the forum, I actually want to hear the way it isalways done. Since those people work in different environments, I'm virtually guaranteed that it will be a new approach for me.

by margarer

Hi Darrell
Thanks for your informative answer. I decided to try my luck and ask you some follow-up questions.

You mentioned using Tech Republic for work related issues (to get different solutions/approaches). Do you feel this is an accepted way to get information in your company (do you talk about the information and how you got it openly)? Do you know of anyone else in your company that participates in a similar forum like Tech Republic?
Do you trust the information you get?
Are there any participants you feel that you know particularly well? If that is the case, any idea why? (I`m not asking you to tell me who).
Do you work for a small or big company?

If any of you have comments regarding these issues I would appreciate your replies.

Margareth
margarer@stud.ntnu.no

by jimbb

Some of the things I haven't said in another post in this thread...

Do I trust the info? Depends. Articles: yes. Discussions and questions: somewhat. I've seen the most crazy solutions get accepted, so before really believing something I double-check.

Do I seem to know someone? Not sure. There seems to be some sort of an incrowd that are very active, so in the end you end up discussing with roughly the same people. Of some I know, from other posts or questions, what their interestsand sensitivities and so are, but that's as far as it goes. I feel I have a vague idea of some of the electronic persona that are posting, I don't feel I know the people behind them. Why? Because they seem to get "triggered" by the same subjects that get my attention.

Do I work for a big company? 950 employees, big enough?

Jim

by prefbid ii

Okay. I've got my cup of Java. I've had breakfast. Bring on the questions! :-)

I work for a large company and I have one of the most unique jobs. My job really is to think up new ways to approach old problems. As such, hunting for ideas on the internet is actually part of the job.

I'm very open about where I get the ideas or things to try. I've also found out that there are a number of people here in the same company that also read this forum, so when I bring up an idea sometimes others will chime in "Oh, I saw that on TechRepublic" or one of the other on-line magazines. I think it actually helps with getting acceptance to new ideas for people to know that it was not some "know-it-all" who is dreaming it up, but that it is an idea that has been used somewhere else and has some credibility.

There was an old joke about credibility that may apply in this case. "Q:How can you identify an expert? A: He's from out of town and carries a black briefcase." Maybe the joke needs to be updated to "He's on the internet under an assumed identity."

I think it is rare that anyone gets the exact answer that they were looking for on the internet. Most of the time you end up with just something to try. However, its the "pointing in the right direction" that is probably the most useful piece of the exchange.

While I notice some names as coming up frequently in the discussions, I can't say that I know anyone well. I'd probably make an exception for "User Deleted" -- he/she is really confused, doesn't know what they want, and often gives contradictory advice (LOL).

by packratt

Well, I could say that I know of some of the people here, though one never truely knows another. I probably have a better grasp of what people here are about more than I do at work if that says anything.

I know others at my company look around here and in other forums, we all use all the resources we can for our own purposes.

I trust any information to the extent of how it holds up under the examination of my experience and sense of logic, this includes the information gathered here, I have seen mistakes made to say the least.

There are people who know me somewhat, thought this may be because I am a fairly open person and have difficulty not being completely forthcoming with information. People email or send peer messages from time to time, so there are some I know more than others.

I currently work for a company with about 1000 people nationwide.

by jimbb

Hej,
I access TR almost exclusively at work, but to be really honest it is not entirely used for work. What I mean is that I find it challenging to give the best possible answer to the questions raised here, even if they have nothing to do with the work I do. Same for the discussions: though they are usually about something IT related - I won't participate in a "chat" thread - they don't always have any relevance to my work.

I do use TR to lookup things, usually articles about trends and so, less about really tech stuff. I know I'm not the only one doing this at work, and I don't mind sharing what I found. In fact, I just send the links in cases I know anyone would be interested.

The great value of TR, both questions and discussions, is the enormous wealth of environments and circumstances, that go way beyond what I'll ever encounter in my entire life. It forces me to think a bit beyond the boundaries of what I'm familiar with. I like intellectual games, and in a way thisis something similar. I'm forced to imagine something I've never encountered, and combine things I know, have experienced, just read, or simply feel to give an answer or solution. It is extremely satisfying to know afterwards that whatever I came up with solved things, or maybe helped someone else to use my piece of the puzzle to add to her/his, and give a complete solution.

In the end it gives me back something valuable in this bizniz: experience, and a more flexible way of thinking. Ihaven't got a clue what being a tech in India is all about for example, but I think I understand the problems and challenges of those people a bit better than those that never bother to join a discussion or question about those subjects.

Jim

by margarer

Hei

Thanks for your answer.

As you can see I have posted some more questions in my reply to Prefbid II, and I would appreciate if you could give your opinions on these issues aswell.

Regards,
Margareth
margarer@stud.ntnu.no

by packratt

Yes, I do use the site for work, perhaps some twisted sort of pleasure if you count getting pummeled for voicing unpopular viewpoints as pleasure... But I think that it serves a different purpose for many here, socialization.

It's not quite pleasure, but it serves as a replacement for the water-cooler for those of us who work long hours and have no chance to talk across the fence to our nieghbors, or for those who choose not to due to these strange antisocial times we live in. I come here toshare my views, share advice when I have the time and answers, listen to different points of view, and just engage in feeble attempts of social re-engineering when I see subjects that are too skewed for my taste.

Discussion boards in general tendto be complex social gatherings, but for tech boards like this, they tend to be replacements for a real life for those of us who are forced to work too hard to remember what one of those are.

by margarer

Good morning. Java sounds good and thanks again for answering even if I`m posting as ”User Deleted” (why I don`t know ;)

I think your comments are really interesting and of great use for me.
Any thoughts on these two…

How is it to communicate with someone in TR compared to someone in your own company?

TR is a virtual community for people in the technology business. How do you think this affects the way the forums work?

And I repeat if anyone else have comments regarding these issues please feel free to reply.

Regards,
Margareth
margarer@stud.ntnu.no

by packratt

Well, to put things simply... Many work environments tend to be heavily charged with politics and conversation with peers is difficult at best, and can be hazardous to your career. Mention a project idea you have and suddenly someone else suggests it to the boss, have a fix for a major problem and someone else jumps up and takes the credit. Say something about management and you hear your own words echo through the halls when it's least advantageous. Talking at work is a no-no, so some talk here.

Also, the range of skills and experiences is more varied here than at any work environment so sometimes you'll hear ideas and viewpoints that would never be shared at work.

As for how the forums work differently because we are technology forums. I would propose that they do not, we are people too.

by prefbid ii

I've had a few people contact me through the side bar tool that is available through TR. Usually they initially are just looking for specific information that they suspect I may know more about than I'm willing to divulge in an open forum. Almost all of them have taken the time to exchange a few notes to let me know if they took my advice or chose something else. I wouldn't call them friendships, but I would call them more than just an inquiry. All of them, so far, have brightened my day. Even when someone writes back to say they thought about my idea but went with x, I still enjoy the thought and the connectivity. The added exchange only takes a minute or two out of my day, but I feel good about the time spent. I suppose it is morelike the feeling I get when I stop and help a stranded motorist when they have a flat tire. I heard a quote of an old New Hampshire farmer who had stopped to help a couple and the couple offered to pay him. The farmer said, "When I stopped to helpyou, I got this good feeling inside. That feeling is not for sale. You can just keep your money."

Inside the company there are many more social rules that have to be followed. When you're the boss, sitting down with someone for a coffee break can be seen as having career overtones. Some people try to move even just social conversation to gain a favor or gain a "point" with the boss. People are much more intimidated and intimidating in person and when your next raise or promotion is resting on what you say to someone or have said to you, the conversation ends up lacking a certain openess and honesty.

When you stop to help someone with a flat, they don't care if you are a multimillionaire or the custodian. The same is true in these exchanges. No one judges your answer based on your title or position in life -- just on the strength of your response. I guess I like that.

by tomsal

The vast majority of the my use of TR is definitely as a work related resource. I've used TR nearly since its opening and I only used it from home about 3 or 4 times.

My use of TR is mainly based on three things:

(1) The most obvious, I like getting different views/input/solutions from people in the same occupational field as me - as it relates to similar projects or problems I'm undertaking.
What makes this even more significant for me - besides my small department (currently 3 of us) the vast majority of the company is not very computer savy. So its not like I have a lot of choices for whom to talk over solutions for IT projects with on site.

(2) Everyone has bad days. The TR forums are a good place to vent your work-related frustrations on, since the only people that have any chance of understanding your situation are the ones that work in the trenches in the same field as you.

(3) I'm just a plain and simple info hound. I research new solutions constantly and I'm open minded to new ways of handling things, getting things implemented, etc. The articles are very informative (most of the time) as well and makes me aware of new technology--not that the 7 IT related publications I subscribe to doesn't do that enougheven already. ;)

(4) I'm not a doctor - so I can't heal the sick, I'm not that great a cook - so I can't feed the hungry, I'm not a movie star - so I don't have "star power" to raise awareness of societal ills....so I like to contribute when I can and help people find solutions to IT/Computer related problems. It's always a pretty satisfying experience when you know you are a useful resource for someone's problems, even if they are only computer/work related problems.

Oh yeah and they have some useful downloads as well.

by margarer

Hi TomSal!

Thanks for your answers, they were very interesting. When I read them some more questions arose and now I hope you will look at this questions also.

Do you know if someone else in your department (or company) uses TR, if so do youtake this in consideration when you use the forums?

TR has a lot of members, but not that many are active, what do you think is the reason for this?

TR is very work related, what happens if someone starts talking a lot about their personal life?

Thank you for taking the time,
Margareth
margarer@stud.ntnu.no

by jimbb

Hei,

I know for sure a few people of my department, and from "closely related" department use TR. Haven't got a clue which ID they use. From one I know she browses the articles mostly, I doubt if she ever touches the discussions or the Q&A. The other I wouldn't know at all. But I do not take this into consideration at all. I don't see why I would have different opinions or solutions, depending on the potential audience.

And why not many are active - well, judging by the names I see coming back, "not many" may still be a few hundred. But I guess most "members" subscribe to be able to ask a question or two, and once the problem is solved we never see them again. The regulars here are usually not the ones asking, but answering all the time.

And though I do not participate in "general chat", it seems as if as long as you don't pick on people, or insult or use abusive language or so, it's generally accepted. Some go along, sone don't. There was a pretty silly discussion not too long ago about Roadkill for example, and I'm still not sure if the Ants-in-a-portable is serious or not :-)

Next question ;-> ?

Jim

by tomsal

Your welcome.

No, no one else uses TR at my company but me. The only exception would be ONE time my direct manager used it because I told him of an article he was interested in, other than that I'm the only consistent user of it.

As far as taking that into consideration when posting to the forums - honestly, no I don't.

I vent once in a while, but I also state my reasons clearly in each post - show me a perfect job where everyone agrees with everyone 100% of the time all the time and I'll show you where the nearest substance abuse clinic is.

Of course the alternative is what I call the Post Office Method....that's where you bottle everything up in the name of political correctness until one day you bring in an MP40 and empty a few clips at the work place - so I think I choose the better path. ;)

As far as the non-active members go, its hard to say any single reason. Maybe they are just curious users and not really in the IT profession, hence they are interested or musedby either the articles on "Server Clustering" or the off-beat geek humor IT professionals sometimes indulge in. My number 1 guess though -- they are overloaded with information. Its hard to believe one time it was a LACK of information people talkedabout, today its the polar opposite. There are many many resources, books, documents out the wazoo - its hard to keep track of and even remember what resources are best to use sometimes.

I think its scary how much info people give up in chats andforums in general all over the Internet. (If only they knew...) I'll do some chit chat but never over extenstive and only to help lighten up the mood - gets problems solved faster if you feel the person you are helping is more comfortable with you.So long as its not excessive and is kept light - I don't think many mind it.

Joking around sometimes is very healthy however and I encourage it - in moderation.

by audioces

Just a note,
I am new to TR and the IT field, as a matter of fact I am still in school trying to stay current with the IT mindfield and falling behind.
This forum has been of great help to me in my search for ways to think outside of the structured box.
Instructors have a rigid time table to teach and cannot take the additional time needed to relate their lectures to the real world. "When I did this five years ago" There is a wealth of experiences here for the truly curious.

by margarer

Hi audioces!

I see you mention information as the main reason for your participation, I know you`re new in the forums and maybe you haven`t thought that much about what you do and why, but I`ll try anyway: Do you think there can be any other reasons for participating than information? If you think so please feel free to explain what the reasons might be, and why.

Margareth H. Roed
margarer@stud.ntnu.no

by audioces

At this time in my new career, I dont believe I could dazzle anyone with my brilliance.
The reason I started to regularly view this site. I had questions that could only be answered by those in the business. Usually, I spend a lot of time reading articles posted at TR.

This is the first time I have ever responded to a forum or chat.

If I had an answer that I was certain was correct I might post it.

by timthetoolman

Hi Margareth,

I thought I might be able to add to your research.

My use of TechRepublic is essentially for fun. Currently I work from home doing software development but have had 12 years in the industry and have a lot of knowledge I can help people with.

I've been doing it now for a few months and have slowly got to know a few of the other regular answerers - but only their styles. I wouldn't say I knew much about them really.
I mean you can infer things about them but you have to remember to keep an open mind.

I guess as far as "work" goes, the research is great. I find it easier to answer someone's question than to attempt to learn something cold. I mean, where do you start? The internet is such a big place that sometimes alittle focus is a great thing.

The other thing about TechRepublic that I dont think anyone has mentioned yet is that it has a "points system". You answer questions and are rewarded with points for doing so. These are worthless, but so are bus ticket collections. So why do it? Its a challenge and you can rate your own success by how quickly you accumulate points.

A lot of people are "one time" users of TechRepublic. They have a question and they need a solution. They never visit again. I'dguess there are others who dont have the confidence in themselves to make suggestions. Perhaps they are put off by a few rejections? And I guess there are still others who see that a question has been answered and dont bother adding to it.

TechRepublic has some VERY active members who very quickly jump on questions to answer them. This must put off the casual user too.

(continued...)

by timthetoolman

I've not had too much experience with personal issues on TechRepublic, although earlier on I was much more sensitive to people who rejected my perfectly good answer without so much as a "thanks". This still narks me somewhat. Especially for those "one time" users. Its just rude.

But there are other people who really appreciate the help you give them. Like hitting one good golf shot in the round, its that recognition that keeps me coming back for more...

Good luck with your research!
Cheers,
Tim.

by margarer

Hi Tim!

I can`t tell you how much I appreciate your response. It`s really valuble to me and my research. Thank you!

There are still a few issues I hope you are willing to give me your thoughts on.

You also write in your answer that TR has some VERY active members who very quickly jump on questions to answer them. Are these always the same people?

I would also like to know when you use TR? During the day or in the evening, or maybe both?

Kind regards,
Margareth
margarer@stud.ntnu.no

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