Helping from long distance...sources of frustration - Club CD Freaks

Kerry56 · 13-06-2007

So this poll is for the great folks around here who go out of their way to help the people posting with problems. What is the most frustrating part of this process for you?

Is it:

They never come back to the post and tell if your solution worked. (Yes I feel like a girl saying "he never calls" just writing this one down)
They don't follow instructions at all
Miscommunications keep arising---especially for those who don't speak English as a first language
They don't include all the relevant information in the first post, then expect you to know everything they didn't actually say
They know quite a lot on the subject but don't indicate this at first, so you spend lots of time explaining what they already know
No one can find a solution

Bob · 13-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerry56

So this poll is for the great folks around here who go out of their way to help the people posting with problems. What is the most frustrating part of this process for you?

Is it:

They never come back to the post and tell if your solution worked. (Yes I feel like a girl saying "he never calls" just writing this one down)
They don't follow instructions at all
Miscommunications keep arising---especially for those who don't speak English as a first language
They don't include all the relevant information in the first post, then expect you to know everything they didn't actually say
They know quite a lot on the subject but don't indicate this at first, so you spend lots of time explaining what they already know
No one can find a solution

lol #7 all of the above

**Arachne** · 13-06-2007

@Kerry - you want the duplicate thread deleted?

1-4 for me BTW

**DrageMester** · 13-06-2007

All of the above, and also:

7. They write a 3000 word essay with no paragraphs or punctuation.
8. They blame you for missing what they wrote in the 34th sentence of their 3000 word essay with no paragraphs or punctuation.
9. They act as if *you* are now responsible for solving their problem

bigmike7 · 13-06-2007

Yo-

#10 - you give them the proper solution - and they argue with you!!

#11 - They are SO computer challenged that they don't know how to open control panel, bios, program or even know what their system or computer is-eh!!

Bob · 13-06-2007

Which thread are you wanting to keep Kerry56?

Kerry56 · 13-06-2007

I was working on a poll, but screwed up a bit. I would appreciate it if Arachne or some other nice mod would move this to the Living Room.

Thanks

**Arachne** · 13-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolling56

Which thread are you wanting to keep Kerry56?

Merged them and moved the thread back to the LR.

Kerry, that was very confusing

...hehe, you could've asked one of us to add a poll to your LR thread

@Mike - I came across #10 just recently. Felt like I was talking to the wall

Kerry56 · 13-06-2007

I think #3 is winning this thread and I don't even have the excuse of speaking a different language.

Prof. Honeydew · 13-06-2007

I think that not following instructions is probably the worst... there are so many posts where people keep asking for basic info like the software, or media, or drivers ... and it's never provided.

I'm not sure that getting frustrated at miscommunication is very fair... especially with non English language speakers, as the miscommunication usually comes from both sides equally.
In fact, is often the most extreme between two English language natives who are from different countries and just fail to understand each others cultures too well...

The only time this gets on my nerves is when people use internet shortcuts - this is really a separate language and totally unfair to anyone who is not really familiar with English, or the shorthand being used... Plus no punctuation

(ok, that's a personal annoyance of mine).
(where is deanimator????)

bigmike7 · 13-06-2007

Yo-

Just thought of another one-

#12 - Those who post - who honestly believe that the person that is going to help them - can truely read their mind - and magically know what media they are using - and what their operating system is - what burner they are using, etc-eh!!

reasonsnotrules · 13-06-2007

how about you spend 2 or 3 days checking back and offering suggestions and they post with a "nevermind, i already had to return the dvd to blockbuster"

Kerry56 · 13-06-2007

^ LOL

Haven't ever seen that one.

**imkidd57** · 13-06-2007

Same as Prof - the use of mobile phone text language.

Thinking the forum is the same as MSN.
Also using 'CD' and 'DVD' interchangeably.

We should be fair though, and have a competing poll where the techno-challenged members say what it is that annoys them about the responses of know-it-all helpers and staff:

eg:

Do a search, idiot!
LOL Noooob!!
Your problem is in a queue and will be answered shortly
I'm 12 years old and I know more than you do at 51.
Look at line 4 of the Java execution pathway at memory location &EA34F9. The indirect addressing branchpoint needs some adjustment.
I wuz gonna tell a mod about u nd ur DVDs

**CCRomeo** · 13-06-2007

They act as if you are now responsible for solving their problem

They act as if you were the company on line help person

**Arachne** · 13-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prof. Honeydew

The only time this gets on my nerves is when people use internet shortcuts - this is really a separate language and totally unfair to anyone who is not really familiar with English, or the shorthand being used... Plus no punctuation

(ok, that's a personal annoyance of mine).
(where is deanimator????)

Yes! That's what I was thinking of when I ticked the miscommunication one, rather than genuine difficulty with English.

I read a post recently that was made up entirely of text/SMS talk. I mean...why?!

**Arachne** · 13-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by imkidd57

We should be fair though, and have a competing poll where the techno-challenged members say what it is that annoys them about the responses of know-it-all helpers and staff:

eg:

Do a search, idiot!
LOL Noooob!!
Your problem is in a queue and will be answered shortly
I'm 12 years old and I know more than you do at 51.
Look at line 4 of the Java execution pathway at memory location &EA34F9. The indirect addressing branchpoint needs some adjustment.
I wuz gonna tell a mod about u nd ur DVDs

LOOOOOOOOL we should

Mr. Belvedere · 13-06-2007

Apart from option #1 ,#4, #9 and #11 i sometimes think people try to insult my intelligence when their question is actually about illegal copying and how to cope with the various difficulties of such illegally obtained files.

For instance .ISO's that don't work correctly, .RAR files that can't be extracted or various movie formats that don't work in their stupid software setups.

Get a fucking clue people. If you deal with illegal stuff, don't expect support from this forum. Don't pretend you're stupid just because you might think i will help you. Money would help, not your tee-hee attitude.

Another thing is about questioning stuff about things i already explained, in detail, about a zillion times. Use the fucking search. Actually do something that proves me you spent time and effort to solve the problem yourself.

Last thing: If you don't know how to locate a website, information or know how to download a program or product: LEARN HOW TO DO IT and stop bugging me about it. I'm not your [knowledge for dummies] paragraph you can grab on to 24/7.

Oh, and sometimes i'm in a bad mood and i might not even care about you and your problems. Sounds harsh, doesn't it? That a fellow human doesn't care about your teeny problems. Boohoo... Big bad meanie stepping on your feelings.

Prof. Honeydew · 13-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by imkidd57

[*]Look at line 4 of the Java execution pathway at memory location &EA34F9. The indirect addressing branchpoint needs some adjustment.

LMAO!

That's exactly how I feel when I post questions on some of the linux forums

I'm a complete newbie (and I tell them so) and they post this complicated response of which I understand only 20%... and those are usually the words "and", "the" etc which are in between the big words

One of the nice things about CDF is that people are pretty friendly here - it's good to be able to ask dumb questions somewhere

(but I'm not going to ask any to Mr. Belvedere now, cos he's scary

)

debro · 14-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prof. Honeydew

One of the nice things about CDF is that people are pretty friendly here - it's good to be able to ask dumb questions somewhere

(but I'm not going to ask any to Mr. Belvedere now, cos he's scary

)

I agree .....
Mr B's Chick in a bikini avatar is .. disturbing.

I love this poll.
I've 100% given up on noobs

Now I just flick through the newbie forum & throw in a generic response and never come back to the thread again

Sometimes I get disoriented because I've already responded to the question 30 times in my life ...

Debro visits the newbie forum:
Me: "Holy crap! I'm back in 2000 ... err 2001 ... err 2002 .. err 2003 .. err 2004 ... err 2005 .. err 2006 again. Crap! What day is it?"
Mr B: "Groundhog day".

reasonsnotrules · 14-06-2007

this is definitely one of the nicer forums though. i post on another forum where the "Help" forum is just a line of locked threads that are all labeled "locked: read the fucking faq"

and reading the faq does solve about 85% of those peoples problems.

maybe we should implement that as a new strategy here along with having an entire forum devoted 2 talkin' lyke dis t33h33!!!11oneoneeleven

debro · 14-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by reasonsnotrules

i post on another forum where the "Help" forum is just a line of locked threads that are all labeled "locked: read the fucking faq"

and reading the faq does solve about 85% of those peoples problems.

That's a fucking great idea!
The personal touch is always best

Quote:

Originally Posted by reasonsnotrules

maybe we should implement that as a new strategy here along with having an entire forum devoted 2 talkin' lyke dis t33h33!!!11oneoneeleven

CDFreaks doesn't want to encourage that kind of shit. It's bad enough that the US government has approved student essay submittals in either SMS talk & 1337 speak.

If dumbing down the nation is the aim of the US government, Congratulations! They're well on the way to fucking the country.
The world will not be following in the US's footsteps. We don't want to get our shoes dirty ... there's just not enough sticks in the world

nmpaulcp · 14-06-2007

I just went to this thread looking to help and........huh??????

Kind of a fustration combination.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=220582

debro · 14-06-2007

Lol!
Bam! The Pit of Newb!

Mr. Belvedere · 14-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prof. Honeydew

but I'm not going to ask any to Mr. Belvedere now, cos he's scary

Frustrated from time to time, not scary. This thread was the perfect opportunity to blow off some steam.

I still like to help people, but it seems inevitable that some people tend to abuse that offered help.

View Poll Results: What is the most frustrating part of trying to help here on the forums?
They never come back to the post and tell if your solution worked	9	81.82%
They don't follow instructions at all	6	54.55%
Miscommunications keep arising---especially for those who don't speak English as a first language	4	36.36%
They don't include all the relevant information in the first post	8	72.73%
They know the subject, but are vague, so you overexplain basics	4	36.36%
No one can find a solution	3	27.27%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

13-06-2007	#1 (permalink)
Kerry56 CD Freaks Die Hard Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,984	Helping from long distance...sources of frustration <a href='http://adstats.cdfreaks.com/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a13febf7&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://adstats.cdfreaks.com/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=30&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=a13febf7' border='0' alt='' /></a> So this poll is for the great folks around here who go out of their way to help the people posting with problems. What is the most frustrating part of this process for you? Is it: They never come back to the post and tell if your solution worked. (Yes I feel like a girl saying "he never calls" just writing this one down) They don't follow instructions at all Miscommunications keep arising---especially for those who don't speak English as a first language They don't include all the relevant information in the first post, then expect you to know everything they didn't actually say They know quite a lot on the subject but don't indicate this at first, so you spend lots of time explaining what they already know No one can find a solution

13-06-2007	#3 (permalink)
Arachne Senior Moderator & Reviewer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Keeping my media stash safe. Posts: 22,578	Re: Trying to help from long distance...sources of frustration @Kerry - you want the duplicate thread deleted? 1-4 for me BTW __________________ Current drives: Pioneer DVR-115D (1.06) + Optiarc AD-5170S (1.12) + Litey LH-20A1H (LL0D) + Samsung SH-S182D (SB06 RPC1) x2 + Litey SHM-165P6S (MS0R) + LG E10N (JE07) + BenQ DW1650 (BCDC) x2 + Litey SHW-1635S (YV6P) x2 + BenQ DW1640@164B (BEFB) + LG 4167B (DL13 TDB) + Samsung SH-S162L (TS08) + NEC ND-4551A (1.Z2) + LG GCE-8520B (1.00) + LiteOn SOHR-5239S (2S0B) Retired: LiteOn LDW-851@SOHW-832 + LiteOn SOHW-1693S + LG 4163B My Review PCs How to delete your upper and lower filters : How to check/enable DMA by Womble Click here to join cdfreaks.com and be part of our friendly community! The CDFreaks Distributed Computing Teams need YOU! Join the Team(s) and help save some lives! Read more here

13-06-2007	#4 (permalink)
DrageMester Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Denmark Posts: 12,977	Re: Trying to help from long distance...sources of frustration All of the above, and also: 7. They write a 3000 word essay with no paragraphs or punctuation. 8. They blame you for missing what they wrote in the 34th sentence of their 3000 word essay with no paragraphs or punctuation. 9. They act as if you are now responsible for solving their problem

13-06-2007	#5 (permalink)
bigmike7 CD Freaks Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lurking In The Back Of Your Mind Posts: 5,615	Re: Trying to help from long distance...sources of frustration Yo- #10 - you give them the proper solution - and they argue with you!! #11 - They are SO computer challenged that they don't know how to open control panel, bios, program or even know what their system or computer is-eh!! __________________ Mike Brayden & Lil Burnits Proud Cyber GranPa - 'CERCA, TROVA' - 'NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM' Be Kind To The Old Folks - For They Are Only Reflection Of You In The Future-eh!!! Work Computer = AMD Opteron 180 /2gb G. Skill PC3200 DDR SDRAM /XP Home-sp3 /(2) 250gb Seagate SATA Hard Drives /Coolmax CUG-700 watt psu /Samsung 202G /LiteOn 20A4P /Pioneer 115D /BenQ 1640 x/flashed to EW 164B /Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 3850 w/512mb GDDR3/256 bit videocard /Planar 20.1" LCD /Nero 6.6 /DVDFab Gold Burning Computer= p4 3.06-HT /2gb G.Skill PC3200 DDR SDRAM /XP Home-sp3 /(2) Seagate 250 gb HDD's /Antec Neo HE 550 watt psu /Pioneer DVR115D w/v1.18 fw as Primary/Burner /LiteOn 20A4H w/vQP57 fw as Primary/Reader/Ripper/Disc Quality Testing /Intel Extreme Graphics /ViewSonic 20.1" LCD /Nero 6.6 /DVDFab Gold On The Shelf: (2) LiteOn SHM-160P6S as backup, BenQ (1) 1640, LG 4167, Liteon 1693, AOpen 1648/aap-pro

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13-06-2007	#6 (permalink)
Bob I donated to the Tsunami fund and all I got was this lousy title Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Looking for my zigzags ~ I come from the no place and i go to the no where Posts: 14,552	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration Which thread are you wanting to keep Kerry56? __________________ "You've Got a hole in your soul if you don't dig the Blues" .....My New Build is Finished. Click HERE to join CDFreaks.com Formerly rolling56 I'm not responsible for my typing in chat or on the board I have Oldtimers "Life'll Kill Yeah" "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" ~ Warren Zevon

13-06-2007	#7 (permalink)
Kerry56 CD Freaks Die Hard Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,984	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration I was working on a poll, but screwed up a bit. I would appreciate it if Arachne or some other nice mod would move this to the Living Room. Thanks

13-06-2007	#9 (permalink)
Kerry56 CD Freaks Die Hard Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,984	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration I think #3 is winning this thread and I don't even have the excuse of speaking a different language.

13-06-2007	#10 (permalink)
Prof. Honeydew CD Freaks Die Hard Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The land of snow Posts: 1,332	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration I think that not following instructions is probably the worst... there are so many posts where people keep asking for basic info like the software, or media, or drivers ... and it's never provided. I'm not sure that getting frustrated at miscommunication is very fair... especially with non English language speakers, as the miscommunication usually comes from both sides equally. In fact, is often the most extreme between two English language natives who are from different countries and just fail to understand each others cultures too well... The only time this gets on my nerves is when people use internet shortcuts - this is really a separate language and totally unfair to anyone who is not really familiar with English, or the shorthand being used... Plus no punctuation (ok, that's a personal annoyance of mine). (where is deanimator????)

13-06-2007	#11 (permalink)
bigmike7 CD Freaks Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lurking In The Back Of Your Mind Posts: 5,615	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration Yo- Just thought of another one- #12 - Those who post - who honestly believe that the person that is going to help them - can truely read their mind - and magically know what media they are using - and what their operating system is - what burner they are using, etc-eh!! __________________ Mike Brayden & Lil Burnits Proud Cyber GranPa - 'CERCA, TROVA' - 'NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM' Be Kind To The Old Folks - For They Are Only Reflection Of You In The Future-eh!!! Work Computer = AMD Opteron 180 /2gb G. Skill PC3200 DDR SDRAM /XP Home-sp3 /(2) 250gb Seagate SATA Hard Drives /Coolmax CUG-700 watt psu /Samsung 202G /LiteOn 20A4P /Pioneer 115D /BenQ 1640 x/flashed to EW 164B /Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 3850 w/512mb GDDR3/256 bit videocard /Planar 20.1" LCD /Nero 6.6 /DVDFab Gold Burning Computer= p4 3.06-HT /2gb G.Skill PC3200 DDR SDRAM /XP Home-sp3 /(2) Seagate 250 gb HDD's /Antec Neo HE 550 watt psu /Pioneer DVR115D w/v1.18 fw as Primary/Burner /LiteOn 20A4H w/vQP57 fw as Primary/Reader/Ripper/Disc Quality Testing /Intel Extreme Graphics /ViewSonic 20.1" LCD /Nero 6.6 /DVDFab Gold On The Shelf: (2) LiteOn SHM-160P6S as backup, BenQ (1) 1640, LG 4167, Liteon 1693, AOpen 1648/aap-pro

13-06-2007	#12 (permalink)
reasonsnotrules CD Freaks Guru Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5,304	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration how about you spend 2 or 3 days checking back and offering suggestions and they post with a "nevermind, i already had to return the dvd to blockbuster" __________________ seriously, DON'T PM me tech questions. depending on my mood you will be ignored or receive completely meaningless answers. bonus spam if you leave your email address...

13-06-2007	#13 (permalink)
Kerry56 CD Freaks Die Hard Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,984	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration ^ LOL Haven't ever seen that one.

13-06-2007	#14 (permalink)
imkidd57 Senior Moderator & Editor Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Fajara Posts: 6,725	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration Same as Prof - the use of mobile phone text language. Thinking the forum is the same as MSN. Also using 'CD' and 'DVD' interchangeably. We should be fair though, and have a competing poll where the techno-challenged members say what it is that annoys them about the responses of know-it-all helpers and staff: eg: Do a search, idiot! LOL Noooob!! Your problem is in a queue and will be answered shortly I'm 12 years old and I know more than you do at 51. Look at line 4 of the Java execution pathway at memory location &EA34F9. The indirect addressing branchpoint needs some adjustment. I wuz gonna tell a mod about u nd ur DVDs

13-06-2007	#15 (permalink)
CCRomeo Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Quiet Corner of NE Connecticut USA Posts: 3,464	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration They act as if you are now responsible for solving their problem They act as if you were the company on line help person

13-06-2007	#18 (permalink)
Mr. Belvedere CD Freaks Guru Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Cthulhu Ninja Zombie Posts: 14,649	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration Apart from option #1 ,#4, #9 and #11 i sometimes think people try to insult my intelligence when their question is actually about illegal copying and how to cope with the various difficulties of such illegally obtained files. For instance .ISO's that don't work correctly, .RAR files that can't be extracted or various movie formats that don't work in their stupid software setups. Get a fucking clue people. If you deal with illegal stuff, don't expect support from this forum. Don't pretend you're stupid just because you might think i will help you. Money would help, not your tee-hee attitude. Another thing is about questioning stuff about things i already explained, in detail, about a zillion times. Use the fucking search. Actually do something that proves me you spent time and effort to solve the problem yourself. Last thing: If you don't know how to locate a website, information or know how to download a program or product: LEARN HOW TO DO IT and stop bugging me about it. I'm not your [knowledge for dummies] paragraph you can grab on to 24/7. Oh, and sometimes i'm in a bad mood and i might not even care about you and your problems. Sounds harsh, doesn't it? That a fellow human doesn't care about your teeny problems. Boohoo... Big bad meanie stepping on your feelings. __________________ I might be evil. Want to make dvd movie backups? Take the 5-step or the 2-step process. Fun, fast and free!

14-06-2007	#21 (permalink)
reasonsnotrules CD Freaks Guru Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5,304	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration this is definitely one of the nicer forums though. i post on another forum where the "Help" forum is just a line of locked threads that are all labeled "locked: read the fucking faq" and reading the faq does solve about 85% of those peoples problems. maybe we should implement that as a new strategy here along with having an entire forum devoted 2 talkin' lyke dis t33h33!!!11oneoneeleven __________________ seriously, DON'T PM me tech questions. depending on my mood you will be ignored or receive completely meaningless answers. bonus spam if you leave your email address...

14-06-2007	#23 (permalink)
nmpaulcp CD Freaks Die Hard Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On the westside Posts: 1,381	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration I just went to this thread looking to help and........huh?????? Kind of a fustration combination. http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=220582 __________________ A warrior doesn't know remorse for anything he has done, because to isolate one's acts as being mean, or ugly, or evil is to place an unwarranted importance on ourselves.The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of the work is the same.

14-06-2007	#24 (permalink)
debro Blown to smitherines Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: The c@ke mixer Posts: 9,531	Re: Helping from long distance...sources of frustration Lol! Bam! The Pit of Newb! __________________ CDFreaks - Overwhelmed by Ignorance since 2005! We lost the battle, but we haven't lost the war! Click Here to sign up to the resistance movement! Viva La Resistance!