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The problem is that you get more rep points for providing an answer (regardless of its true nature) than you do for "organizing", editing, or commenting.
Personally, I'm weary of the crap questions about writing a simple chat in asp.net, or converting Indian currency values to words, and many times, it's more fun to be a dick than it is to repeatedly offer things like, "google is your friend", or "don't post homework questions", etc, etc.
I agree that we should probably eliminate the less friendly tags, but it's impossible to fight human nature, and sometimes, you gotta call it like you see it. We spend a lot of time looking through the questions to see if we can help someone 9and let's face it, that's the only way people get help is by someone else looking at their question voluntarily). It's unfortunate that the majority of new near/middle/far east programmers have so little initiative, and some/moderate backlash should be expected from more experienced programmers.
I'm a smart-ass by habit, and I'm probably more likely than anyone else to postulate on someone's inability to breathe without instructions. It's just gonna happen. I can't help myself.
.45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly ----- "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 ----- "The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001
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I know it isn't always easy to stay calm and polite; questions can be badly worded, show a lack of understanding or initiative, and all that.
Here is my trick: when I compose a reply, I always imagine the possibility my message is going to be the very first thing the enquirer will read on CodeProject; that is what sets the tone. If I don't like the question much (mostly due to clear laziness on the part of the enquirer) my answer gets shorter, or I don't provide any. That works for me. And a have a short blacklist, people that have irritated me enough to be ignored in future (my memory serves me well enough, so I don't need to write it down).
Of course, I relax the rules when I know the enquirer is familiar with the site, or I am familiar with his way of interacting here. I do appreciate a little joke or leg pulling on occasion, once a question has been sufficiently answered. We don't want a boring site either, do we?
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Vote them down and ignore them.
Why spend time with people who do not deserve it? We should rather focus on those (few) questions from real software developers or those who decided to become one and need help! I do not want to spend my time reading angry comments or stupid questions.
Don't know what the best solution is and haven't really understand what the problem is (human stupidity, CP audience, QA concept design?)... but I thought about one possible alternative. We have enough editorial volunteers (members with edit rights)? How about some kind of incubator for new accounts, question from those users will first go trough an editorial stage before they are allowed to shot questions directly at the wider audience. Secondly some templates for editors would be nice, instead of thinking about a matching text use something like {{googleit}} {{formatit}} {{homework}} and they expand to a helpful text (idea borrowed from Wikipedia). Maybe this keeps most crap out and is cheaper then removing it afterwards.
Cheers
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: sometimes, you gotta call it like you see it
I totally agree with you JSOP...
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Just vote the question down. Much easier.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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Oh OK then. I'll try harder to be a good boy then.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx
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I agree that most probably do deserve it. But what about the ones who simply ask a bad question in the wrong way with poor language?
I think everyone here on CP, even the famously patient Nish, has felt like hammering some of these questions. When I feel this urge coming on, I know I've been reading posts too long, and I just stop. Maybe pick up Moby Dick and read the first few pages. Or find a real human to talk to. Or get a nice cold one and listen to Madeleine Peyroux. You get the idea.
CP burnout is not pretty.
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Hans Dietrich wrote: But what about the ones who simply ask a bad question in the wrong way with poor language?
I hope that I (and you) are able to recognise the difference, and respond accordingly.
It's time for a new signature.
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Yes, I agree. I'm more concerned about people not recognizing that they have forum burnout.
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I've removed the worst of those tags.
Yes, some people have problems formatting. Yes, some people prefer to talk to someone and ask for an answer instead of Googling.
If everyone actually took the time to Google, read the docs, experiment and just plain old nut it out then we wouldn't even be here.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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I personally do not abuse anyone no matter how simple the question is. The most rude reply I would give is "Have you tried googling?". I too am not a fan of people making fun of guys who are either not that well equipped or ignorant.
IMO the best way is to just ignore the question.
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Damn - how polite everybody has suddenly become in the QA forum due to this post...
Nobody stepping anybody on the toes; Heck, even JSOP asks before he shoots...
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I spend a fair bit of time on the train and have the habbit of browssing on my mobile and as is the forums are hard to read in a phone browser.
So pretty please, can we have the forums mobile-aware?
Panic, Chaos, Destruction.
My work here is done.
or "Drink. Get drunk. Fall over." - P O'H
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I believe i read here someone mentioning that CodeProject is Mobile-aware! i.e. There is a mobile version of code project.
Chris, might tell if not so.
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Which phone?
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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The one he owns, of course.
Workout progress:
Current arm size: 14.4in
Desired arm size: 18in
Next Target: 15.4in by Dec 2010
Current training method: HIT
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correct. An obscure make and model, bought in Hungary, made in China, the built-in browser is called Sarifa.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Ah - the Phoney.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx
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You know of it? so they've build several? Then Chris really should support it.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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I'd like it too - Blackberry for me! I can read and post but it is pretty sucky. I have thought about trying another browser on it but haven't got that far yet.
DaveIf this helped, please vote & accept answer!
Binging is like googling, it just feels dirtier. (Pete O'Hanlon)
BTW, in software, hope and pray is not a viable strategy. (Luc Pattyn)
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Ignore the 'children'.
I've got a Samsung i8510 running Symbian S60. The browser is the in built one.
Panic, Chaos, Destruction.
My work here is done.
or "Drink. Get drunk. Fall over." - P O'H
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Is it possible to allow the user to log in and set a "mobile" setting (from his phone) that tells the site what kind of phone they're using and render the site accordingly?
I would also suggest that you setup a "generic" mobile version that renders to a fixed height/width in case the phone isn't recognized.
Also, most smart phones allow you to turn the phone sideways for a wider view. That should probably be a profile setting as well.
Of course, I don't know if all that is necessary. Just throwing ideas out there...
BTW, I'm on an Android phone, and if I turn my phone sideways, and scroll to exactly the right position, The message breaks lines in the right place, but that's about as mobile aware as CP appears to be (for me).
.45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly ----- "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 ----- "The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001
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As a test you can append ?mobile=true to any page to see what the mobile version looks like. I weed to update the mobile browser detection thingamajig to cater for the rash of new phones
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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I use the Ctrl+RightArrow to read through the forums, but when I get to the end I need to get out the mouse again. Can we have Ctrl+RightArrow continue to the next page if we're at the end of the page of posts, or maybe another key combo to move between pages?
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