LISTSERVS: how not to use them
When I first got started with .NET I was on my own. I worked alone in a shop where nobody else knew .Net. I found the www.develop.com LISTSERVS very helpful, though I found myself posting to them too much.
What do I mean? Well, folks were quick to point out the fact that I was not researching things on my own. For the most part I did do some research, though I must admit I had many knee jerk posts, pretty much saying "help". Looking in the SDK, looking at the generated IL, Googling, picking up a book have all made me a better .NET developer.
I now try to be mindful of everyone's time and do all the work I can before I post. So, if you see a post by me trust me when I say I have nowhere else to turn. I got mad at first when folks told me to research\demo or whatever else it took to figure something out on my own first. 3+ years later though, I am better off because of their advice to do all I could on my own before I post.
I say thanks to those who, sarcastically, told me to stop posting so many questions.
When I see someone else doing this now I try to help them too. Usually, they are mad\pissed off\hurt and the like. I have dropped out of 2 LISTSERVS today because of this. I try to "teach a man to fish.." and too many folks get pissed...all they want is an immediate answer, fix it, move on, get a problem, post, fix it, move on, etc... This is not the way "I work".
Joe was kind enough to refer me to this jpg which sums up my feelings on the topic:
