Welcome to my blog. Here you'll find information about things that interest me. That means that mostly it will be about Microsoft Windows development and administration. My biggest interests are in SQL Server and C# development but I don't promise to limit my writings to what I know; I may also write what I think - even if I am wrong.
To get back to my home page, go to http://www.DalePreston.com
About Me
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- Name: Dale Preston
- Location: Park Hill, Oklahoma, United States
I am a consultant specializing in developing Microsoft SQL Server, .Net Windows and ASP.Net applications using C#.
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Motivation by Insult
No Excuses for not Localizing.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Motivation by Insult
I have recently observed a phenomenon which I have labeled "Motivation by Insult." Basically, I mean that if you can't inspire greatness or even appropriate behavior in someone then insult them until they conform just to avoid your wrath. The phenomenon has always existed and will always exist. Writing about it here may do nothing except let me vent or it may inspire just one person... Or, what the heck; as long as I am dreaming, perhaps it will start a revolution and change the world.I try to participate in Microsoft's MSDN Newsgroups as my time and knowledge permit because I enjoy helping and I appreciate the knowledge gained from researching and looking for answers to the questions others post there. My own experience has been that while not all of my own questions get answered, some do get answered and, when they do, that's another benefit.
One of the more frustrating things on the newsgroups is to see a question asked that interests me, maybe because I am having the same problem or maybe it just intrigues me, then to expand the thread to see the replies and, instead of the anticipated brilliant solution to a problem, finding some self-proclaimed topic-cop (often a Microsoft MVP) blasting the original poster (OP in newsgroup talk) for the unforgivable crime of violating newsgroup protocol.
Typical offenses that will bring the wrath of the newsgroup elite are:
- Cross posting - posting in multiple groups.
- Off-topic posting - pretty much self-explanatory, though often a subset of cross posting.
- Asking a question for which some self-proclaimed expert is able to find an answer to by searching Google. By the way, nothing in Microsoft's newsgroup rules states that the newsgroups should be the point of last resort in your search for answers.
The common response to these unpardonable infractions is to blast the offender publicly with snide and demeaning replies - sometimes even doing so across many newsgroups (cross posting) and always off topic.
I think I understand why some newsgroup users respond this way; perhaps they started out with friendly reminders or suggestions but after making the same suggestion year after year they get tired of doing so. Of course, they most likely aren't making the suggestion to the same person all those years - it is new people or perhaps just an unintentional mistake by a seasoned user - even MVPs cross-post and post off-topic from time to time.
Many new posters perpetuate the poor responses to protocol errors by following the examples of the seasoned or elite posters that they otherwise admire whether those examples are good examples or bad examples.
The topic-cops don't remember that they were once new and that they, even still, occasionally cross-post.
Perhaps these topic-cops forget that the Microsoft newsgroups are peer-to-peer newsgroups; they are not moderated. I could find nothing on Microsoft's MVP site or on the newsgroup sites that would indicate that anyone or any group, other than perhaps Microsoft's own newsgroup site management team, has been assigned to police or moderate the groups. I do not mean to imply that good manners should not be expected, only that the request for appropriate behavior should be done as peer to peer and not with an attitude of elitism by virtue of the number of posts, longevity in the groups, or by some title or fraternity membership - either earned or bestowed.
The slogan for Microsoft's MVP site is:
"Inspired community, Inspiring people. MVPs are dedicated professionals, passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience with others."A great philosophy, don't you think? I certainly do. Hopefully more of us, MVP or otherwise (I am in the otherwise column), can commit to following that standard. Rather than looking for any chance to berate or belittle, we can decide to search out the opportunity to inspire, to motivate, and to teach. Done well, our efforts will not only inspire those whom we coach, but will also inspire by how we coach.
Well, I warned you in the description of my blog - from time to time you will get what I think and not just what I know.
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Nice job, Dale.
Hopefully, those list experts that are so familiar with postings in a particular group that they know the frequency of posters, etc. -- realize they don't have to jump on every offense. Repeat offenders are different. Nothing turns the readership off when usually top-notch contributers rant and rave within topics instead of sending private emails to the offender.
Since newsgroups and chats have been around over 20 years and BBS well before then, it's a real wonder that "motivation by insult" still reigns.
Rather that berating someone for not using Google, it's better to post good examples of how to find the solution and then to post the best finding (and why while you're at it) as answer to the post.
Reponses need to help build the group's completeness and reputation.
Let the administrator and a few list appointed 'helpers' lecture the newbies.
Sad part of it all -- many responders are forced to change distribution lists from individual (where they are likely to post a meaningful response) to the "aggregated mode" where they just get the postings for a day or period of time as a group. Too often well-meaning contributors get turned off from distribution lists, etc. that have to many responses that are nothing more than rants. Thus, Lurkers are born.
P.S. Lurkers are those that listen to / read / take whatever they want from a list, blog or chat and never respond.
Good luck,
Larry Timmins
clickcharge@yahoo.com
Hopefully, those list experts that are so familiar with postings in a particular group that they know the frequency of posters, etc. -- realize they don't have to jump on every offense. Repeat offenders are different. Nothing turns the readership off when usually top-notch contributers rant and rave within topics instead of sending private emails to the offender.
Since newsgroups and chats have been around over 20 years and BBS well before then, it's a real wonder that "motivation by insult" still reigns.
Rather that berating someone for not using Google, it's better to post good examples of how to find the solution and then to post the best finding (and why while you're at it) as answer to the post.
Reponses need to help build the group's completeness and reputation.
Let the administrator and a few list appointed 'helpers' lecture the newbies.
Sad part of it all -- many responders are forced to change distribution lists from individual (where they are likely to post a meaningful response) to the "aggregated mode" where they just get the postings for a day or period of time as a group. Too often well-meaning contributors get turned off from distribution lists, etc. that have to many responses that are nothing more than rants. Thus, Lurkers are born.
P.S. Lurkers are those that listen to / read / take whatever they want from a list, blog or chat and never respond.
Good luck,
Larry Timmins
clickcharge@yahoo.com
Thanks Larry, I am glad I am not alone in my observations. I saw a case this week where an MVP criticized three consecutive responders to a OP's question without once offering a suggestion or solution for the OP at all. Go figure. By the way - I have seen your responses to a lot of folks and respect your effort and expertise. Thanks for all your work!
Funnily enough this link was sent to me immediately after I read another article by you on primary keys and identity crises...in that you mention that you and joe celko are the only 2 people who are like-minded in their approach to this highly-debated topic....
now ironically enough, everytime i have seen mr. celko respond to a post it has been accompanied by biting sarcasm and a contempt for the the post(er) that has made me wonder why he bothers to respond at all....with your "motivation by insult" explanation everything is now clear...
now ironically enough, everytime i have seen mr. celko respond to a post it has been accompanied by biting sarcasm and a contempt for the the post(er) that has made me wonder why he bothers to respond at all....with your "motivation by insult" explanation everything is now clear...
I am a Microsoft MVP. I agree that some MVPs are guilty of some of the things you say. You do not however mention the hate that some people have for MVPs. I always have the fact that I'm an MVP in my signature. This is not boasting but alerting people to the fact that I may have a bias. Because I make public the fact that I am an MVP I have been subjected to email that is nothing more than hate mail. This hate mail has included death threats, threats of reporting me to the police as a terrorist, and the usual aspersions on my sexual preferences and parenthood that we often see in flame wars. The MVP award is just that, an award. Unfortunately some people, both recipients and non-recipients, think it means something more than that. I'm not trying to excuse the behaviour of some MVPs. I am saying there are two sides to every argument and you have only presented one. The vast majority of MVPs do not behave as you suggest. Don't tar us all with the same brush.
I know you from the Vista newsgroups, Kerry, and I agree. You are one of the more effective MVPs I know - and the list of effective MVPs is rather long.
I think that most readers of this post would realize that I did not mean that all subscribers to the motivation by insult school of coaching are MVPs nor are all MVPs subscribers to the school.
It is actually the high standard of most MVPs and the MVP program that I quoted as the standard I was encouraging others to follow.
Thanks to you and most MVPs like you, those who really do enjoy sharing and helping. It is too bad, though, that Microsoft doesn't do anything about those few who tarnish the reputation of the program.
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I think that most readers of this post would realize that I did not mean that all subscribers to the motivation by insult school of coaching are MVPs nor are all MVPs subscribers to the school.
It is actually the high standard of most MVPs and the MVP program that I quoted as the standard I was encouraging others to follow.
Thanks to you and most MVPs like you, those who really do enjoy sharing and helping. It is too bad, though, that Microsoft doesn't do anything about those few who tarnish the reputation of the program.
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