| Admin
| To Post or Not To Post......
Hey guys, I just found this old article but I don't remember who wrote it?
Do you?
Thanks,
Rick
=========
A question even the great Bard himself is leery to answer in this day and age...To Post or not to Post.
Let’s think things through here a second.
Sept. 11, War in the middle East (again), Fascism on the rise in Europe (again), Fighting between North and South Korea (still), human rights violations in China (still), and debate on what is or isn't appropriate to post on a website meant for broadening horizons and assisting those in need (AGAIN).
Mind, this is an OPINION and most meant to be taken with a grain of salt, or sugar, or a few pints, whatever suits you best.
What started as a simple, albeit strongly worded, request for information as to what worked for someone has turned into yet another lively debate as to the meaning of this site. Come on peoples, we've seen this sort of debate before, it gets old over time, and it's not very conducive, yet very liberating in the sense that we can let our opinions be heard. GOOD FOR YOU! Fist amendment rights, to those here who that applies to, free speech to those in countries where the first amendment doesn't exist (but the concept does).
This is the INTERNET, the World Wide Web, not some back street, backyard printed "fan zine". Let’s realize that this is one of the BEST forms of communication we have, and use it to the best of ALL our abilities.
Rick has supplied us with a wonderful format to express ideas, concerns and knowledge while being able to offer assistance, advice and stress relief. And his done this at NO COST to any but himself and the few that contribute donations.
But I don't intend this to be a rant, just a thought...so back to the thinking...
When I got thrown into the world of Telephony I was just starting out as a PC tech. Low man on the totem pole really...my job was more "printer fixer" than PC technician. But what at the time I saw as merely added responsibility has suddenly become a career. And not just a career for me, but for a lot of you as well.
Anyone above the age of 30 I'm sure can recall the days when telephony was more of the carrier variety. Linemen (and women) driving down those "dusty roads" climbing the poles to check the wires, Operators in the vain of Lilly Tomlin's "One Ringy Dingy" character of Laugh In fame (the character name escapes me)....then suddenly, PC technology crept in and the world of Telephony was turned upside down.
Now, barely 20yrs later we've got phones that use PCs, phones that ARE PCs, phones that do MORE than a PC. We've got mobile cellular phones, satellite phones, phones that surf the net.
Some of you have come the same way I have, from a PC background, either thrown into the telephony realm because it was convenient, or because you had the knowledge base to do the job. Some of you have come in from the "old school" of line workers, and CO workers. We are all in the same boat now folks...and often times we get to a point where we need help.
This is a location to ask a question and not only get just ONE answer, but often 3, 4, 5 or MORE! True they don't all work, and true often times some of the questions asked can be vague. But is that because we didn't spend the time to "look it up"? Or is it because we don't even have an inkling of WHAT the problem is or how to describe it?
NTPs, Classes, etc...very useful in our line of work, it's true...I've heard that song and dance SO often in other areas that I have to laugh every time I hear it.
I've no problem with saying it...but we ALL have to realize...that's not ALWAYS an option. Let me put this to you...when I was first starting out I had little knowledge of what to do, only how to change the programming on a phone...and even that I didn't understand, just copied from other phones. The company I worked for sent me to ONE class at a Nortel site. ONE CLASS folks...and for those of you in the know....what do you REALLY come away with from that VERY FIRST class your "Allowed" to take? Very little.
When I would post questions to a former incarnation of a Nortel question board (a site that the instructor was kind enough to get us involved in...Something that he stated was "not the norm") I would be "flamed" for asking such a "freshman question". I WAS a freshman! What other kind of question could I ask? I was told "look it up"...in what? You didn't get NTPs in that first class back then....I was told "you should get the training", with what $$...those classes certainly weren't FREE and they weren't cheap either! The kicker, I was told I "..Shouldn’t be working on the system if I wasn't a certified Nortel technician". That was a good one....unless you worked for a Vendor of Nortel or WERE Nortel back then, certification was not possible....and it was PART OF MY JOB to work on these things!
Now, 5yrs later, I hold that certification, I know A LOT more than I did, I've got the experience, I've done installs, tear downs, modifications, you name it...
Do I know everything there is to know? HELL NO! Who does? Do I think I can help those who are in need? OF COURSE! We all run into problems from time to time, we've all had the answers. Why not share what we know, and even what we don't know...
Communication....we're in that industry, lets communicate. Jack started a thread, with what many of us deemed a well intention, to ask that we let other know WHAT HAPPENED. This wasn't a "let me know that I gave you the correct answer so I can let my ego swell and I can boast to all my mates over a few pints of how smart I am" nor was it "see, see I did good!'. It was a statement we all were thinking deep down.
If we're wrong, we're WRONG, and even if we won't admit defeat, at least we know that our solution DIDN'T work and we won't try it if we have that problem in future.
We all look at these pages; we all look at the questions, and answers, even if we don't chime in ourselves. All you need to do is look at the counter in the middle, NOT the "how many posts this person did" but the "How many people have LOOKED at this question". I guarantee you that count is almost ALWAYS higher than the amount of posts for that topic.
What does this mean? It means that there are a LOT of people out there, some who may NEVER ask a question let alone answer one looking for answers, or relief.
Rick has given us a wonderful site to put in just about ANYTHING we want, and if you don't see it here now...just ask, and he delivers.
So long to short I just have to say: To Post or Not to post...damn straight, no matter how "duh" I think a question is, I'm posting...and if I know the answer...or think I may know...I'm posting....and I would hope you all do as well. |