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Re: Questionable Quality Questions

by rchiav (Deacon)
on Apr 06, 2001 at 18:02 UTC ( [id://70467]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Questionable Quality Questions

To offer some suggestions, here's some things you can try to better word your questions. From having been asked my fair share of vague questions by customers, here's something I *wish* everyone did before they asked the question.

1) Come up with your basic question

2) Then look at it and determine what you'd need to know if you were going to answer it. Would you need to know what OS it's on? Would a code example be helpful? Would you want to know what modules they were using? The purpose? Example from my RL.. "Is the network down?"

3) Come with a question, not a potential answer. Instead of saying "XYZ isn't doing what I want it to, what's wrong?", say "I'm trying to do ABC.. and here's what I attempted. It's not working." RL example - saying "My mail keeps getting bounced back to me" instead of "Is the network down?".. or "This server keeps Blue Screening, can you take a look at it" instead of "Can you rebuild this server?"

4) There are stupid questions, contrairy to popular belief, but it's not because they're simple. And your question isn't stupid. The stupid questions are the ones that never ask the question or the questionier wants you to somehow infuse them with all your vast knowledge. To me, a stupid question is "Plz tell me in detail about perl. And how to make a web page." WTF?

Hope this is helpful.. Rich

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Questionable Quality Questions
by idnopheq (Chaplain) on Apr 06, 2001 at 22:25 UTC
    I'd add a fifth one (or zeroth) ... "Don't Panic".

    Relax. Perl is fun. Granted, if your boss is breathing down your neck and the mental train is well of it's tracks, it can be most difficult to find balance, see the path, and walk it.

    I like digging through the holy texts, foating through PerlMonks & some mail lists, etc. I can run off on so many tangents while looking for a solution that eventually I tend to stumble onto my answer.

    But when I don't, I relax and post as much information relevent to the situation (w/ real life code). I try to keep the post concise. If I make a foolish error, I know the monks will give me a kindly paddling. If more information is needed, usually a monk will ask.

    Then refill your Karmic cup by looking to help someone else.

    HTH
    Dex

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