Why so much "snark" with replies?

Mike Koewler wrote:
James Hahn wrote:
I've never figured out why, but the Office groups in particular are
infested with pseudo-technocrats whose only interest seems to be in
demonstrating their own expertise and in denigrating those who
haven't yet achieved some arbitrary level of capability in their use
of PCs and the Internet.

Duh, I guess your theorem gives credence to the unrefuted fact that,
in the midst of often obfuscated denigrating remarks, the
aforementioned typers of replies usually give the inept user an
answer that not only solves the problem at hand but leads the user to
explore the depths of his/her own ability to solve the said hurdle
without further outside assistance?
And then
they engage in long OT discussions about how stupid the newbies are.
When your a monkey in a zoo, you tend to share your food with other
monkeys. We believe in feeding the animals.

You can show them up very effectively by providing your own polite
and accurate replies - the comparisons with the snarky responses
will quickly become apparent to everyone.

Not to snarks! And those snarks are the ones providing answers. Long
live snarks. Long live snarks. Long live snarks.

For those offensive posters who claim MVP status, check the post
against the rules listed at
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...t/default.mspx
and then report it to:


And report snarks who are not MVP's or DUI's, or EOE's or BPOE's to


Have a great day.
Long live snarks!

Mike


Mikey - I love ya! Could you do me a favour and email me your snail mail
addy? Another one for the Yule card list!
--
Facon - the artificial bacon bits you get in Pizza Hut for sprinkling
on salads.

I'd like to jump in here.

I have a son with cerebral palsy. He has a very difficult time with the printed word,
he can read very well, but when a subject has too many complex directions he loses
his focus and becomes frustrated. (I might add he now has a PhD, is director of
disability services and an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati). He was
a pioneer with the likes of Dragon and GPS.

Experiencing his problems, I learned not all folks have the same comprehension level.
The more simple the solution the easier it is for them to continue to use the program
and enjoy the benefits of their creativity.

--
Mary Sauer MS MVP
http://office.microsoft.com/
http://www.msauer.mvps.org/
news://msnews.microsoft.com
"Mike Hall" wrote in message
...
Your first remark was a reply in the post to which I was referring, thereafter, you
posted this thread..

The first line of help with any program has to be either the manual supplied or the
built in help files.. even a newbie should be able to access them.. full and
detailed help is available there, yet they choose to locate newsgroups and ask
questions to which the answer could be obtained in seconds and printed off..

The internet is a huge database of knowledge, easier to use than a dictionary
because it even corrects bad spelling in search boxes.. I am sure many of the
posters can find info on the latest digital camera or car, yet they seem unable to
do the same for a computer problem..

Some of the posts contain such a small amount of information, and yet the
originators expect a full answer and quickly.. helpers have to be able to mind read
or end up castigated for not supplying the correct information.. do you think that
is anything close to fair?.. I don't..

In some of the other newsgroups, people ask how to format a drive.. so you tell
them how to do that.. the truth is that you know they want to re-install the OS in
the majority of cases, but that is not what they asked.. there was a time when I
would have supplied all of that info.. not anymore.. you get a few replies that
accuse you of being a know it all or wannabe MVP and you just feel like telling
them to ........ whatever.. others accuse you of not telling them what they really
wanted to know, that you should have read between the lines..

The strange part is that we all keep coming back for more.. it's 2:35 in the
morning here, and I can't sleep.. so I use the time to look through the groups to
see if I can help.. I don't come here specifically to offend, but if some are
offended..

Oh well.. time to look through some of the others now..

Stay safe

Mike


"Morisot" wrote in message
...
Sorry, Mike, but that is an incorrect assumption about what prompted this
thread. I started it because I have observed what to me is a pattern of snide
answers and mean-spirited "humor" that is off-putting rather than helpful. I
certainly don't think such grudgingly rendered "help" makes people feel good
about Publisher or Microsoft.

M.

"Mike Hall" wrote:


The point in question started with this.. actual quotes..

OP.. I would like to start writing a book and I want to know if I can use
Publisher 2003 to do that?

MVP.. Yes, unless you are creating the book in Braille.

OP.. Thanks was actually looking for some constructive help
since I just loaded it! You are a master of the obvious of which I have no
need.

Now this is an attitude that you should be familiar with for sure.. Would
you like to tell us all exactly what the MVP did that was wrong enough to
deserve the kind of answer received?

Did the OP ask for constructive help in the initial question?.. did the OP
explain that the program had only just been loaded?.. how far would you have
gone with an explanation?..

With all respect, if you want to write a book that is to be given to a
publishing house for perusal, you ask the publishing house in what format
they accept manuscripts.. and if you want to enter text onto a Publisher
page, you look in the help index..

If a computer user wants the best from their system at whatever level, they
must also expect to put some effort in of their own..

If people with problems were to come here and ask for help in understanding
some of the more technical aspects of help pages and websites that they had
visited, I can't think of any MVP or computer hobbyist who wouldn't fall
over themselves in an attempt to help..

The bad attitude starts with people who are not prepared to help themselves
one iota, and who then come here with their attitude locked and loaded..

Mike Hall

Sounds like a cop out, what sins are you hiding Ed?

don


"Ed Bennett" wrote in message
...
While in a state of ecstasy after repairing his laptop, Ed sees a
message from DavidF . On it is written:
as you were given the MVP title and by
definition should be demonstrating more patience and understanding
IMHO.

Just one minor point - MVPs are awarded based on *past performance*, and
there are (technically) no more expectations on them than are on any other
members of the community.

--
Ed Bennett - MVP Microsoft Publisher
http://www.mvps.org/the_nerd/
Before reading this message, view the disclaimer:
http://mvps.org/the_nerd/disclaim.htm

"Mike Hall" wrote in message
...

To answer by return means promptly, not necessarily by e-mail..
In your culture, perhaps. You ought to be aware, however, that you are
addressing a world-wide audience, and your words will mean different things
to people outside your own culture.

First off.. your attitude towards anybody with a title implies a level of
jealousy.. some of these people have indeed learned their stuff and their
primary work is in IT.. I am not a software expert by any means, but after
20 years of being an IBM service engineer, I know all about dealing with
customers and their hardware/software problems..
If these people have 'learned their stuff' then they have learned to be
polite. It is obvious that many have. But there are also many who
demonstrate by their responses that they haven't learned anything of value,
just a few facts.

The point in question started with this.. actual quotes..
"This .. actual quotes" has nothing whatsoever to do with this thread. I
cannot imagine how you made this connection. If you really thought there
was a connection, why not mention that post as an example instead of the
made-up customer service cases you used. I could have easily indicated what
responses I thought were approriate and what were not. But I still don't
understand where you got it from.

OP.. I would like to start writing a book and I want to know if I can use
Publisher 2003 to do that?

MVP.. Yes, unless you are creating the book in Braille.

OP.. Thanks was actually looking for some constructive help
since I just loaded it! You are a master of the obvious of which I have
no need.

Now this is an attitude that you should be familiar with for sure.. Would
you like to tell us all exactly what the MVP did that was wrong enough to
deserve the kind of answer received?
I never suggested that anyone, or any MVP, did something wrong in that
thread and I cannot see how you read that into my post. I posted no answer
in that thread.

Did the OP ask for constructive help in the initial question?.. did the OP
explain that the program had only just been loaded?.. how far would you
have gone with an explanation?..

With all respect, if you want to write a book that is to be given to a
publishing house for perusal, you ask the publishing house in what format
they accept manuscripts.. and if you want to enter text onto a Publisher
page, you look in the help index..

If a computer user wants the best from their system at whatever level,
they must also expect to put some effort in of their own..

If people with problems were to come here and ask for help in
understanding some of the more technical aspects of help pages and
websites that they had visited, I can't think of any MVP or computer
hobbyist who wouldn't fall over themselves in an attempt to help..

The bad attitude starts with people who are not prepared to help
themselves one iota, and who then come here with their attitude locked and
loaded..
If I read your comments correctly then you are trying to tell me that in
these cases it is OK to be rude. It's just that you won't come out and say
it in so many words.

Maybe because I don't consider it being rude.. I consider it to be
realistic..


"James Hahn" wrote in message
...
"Mike Hall" wrote in message
...

To answer by return means promptly, not necessarily by e-mail..
In your culture, perhaps. You ought to be aware, however, that you are
addressing a world-wide audience, and your words will mean different
things to people outside your own culture.

First off.. your attitude towards anybody with a title implies a level of
jealousy.. some of these people have indeed learned their stuff and their
primary work is in IT.. I am not a software expert by any means, but
after 20 years of being an IBM service engineer, I know all about dealing
with customers and their hardware/software problems..
If these people have 'learned their stuff' then they have learned to be
polite. It is obvious that many have. But there are also many who
demonstrate by their responses that they haven't learned anything of
value, just a few facts.

The point in question started with this.. actual quotes..
"This .. actual quotes" has nothing whatsoever to do with this thread. I
cannot imagine how you made this connection. If you really thought there
was a connection, why not mention that post as an example instead of the
made-up customer service cases you used. I could have easily indicated
what responses I thought were approriate and what were not. But I still
don't understand where you got it from.

OP.. I would like to start writing a book and I want to know if I can use
Publisher 2003 to do that?

MVP.. Yes, unless you are creating the book in Braille.

OP.. Thanks was actually looking for some constructive help
since I just loaded it! You are a master of the obvious of which I have
no need.

Now this is an attitude that you should be familiar with for sure.. Would
you like to tell us all exactly what the MVP did that was wrong enough to
deserve the kind of answer received?
I never suggested that anyone, or any MVP, did something wrong in that
thread and I cannot see how you read that into my post. I posted no answer
in that thread.

Did the OP ask for constructive help in the initial question?.. did the
OP explain that the program had only just been loaded?.. how far would
you have gone with an explanation?..

With all respect, if you want to write a book that is to be given to a
publishing house for perusal, you ask the publishing house in what format
they accept manuscripts.. and if you want to enter text onto a Publisher
page, you look in the help index..

If a computer user wants the best from their system at whatever level,
they must also expect to put some effort in of their own..

If people with problems were to come here and ask for help in
understanding some of the more technical aspects of help pages and
websites that they had visited, I can't think of any MVP or computer
hobbyist who wouldn't fall over themselves in an attempt to help..

The bad attitude starts with people who are not prepared to help
themselves one iota, and who then come here with their attitude locked
and loaded..
If I read your comments correctly then you are trying to tell me that in
these cases it is OK to be rude. It's just that you won't come out and
say it in so many words.