QTP: Support forums

July 14, 2006 · 1 min read

I've recently noted a trend on the Mercury Interactive support forums of late. Here's an example:

Jerk: Any1 suggest how 1 could...blah, blah

Responder: I think that's in the KB, have you checked there?

Jerk: You sound like the scum who posts only to recieve reward points....blah, blah

This person had a genuine question, and the responder wasn't trying (I don't think) to be difficult. I myself have responded to such questions with a similar reply, although I do try to give the KB article number to help. The OP decided to resort to name calling, most likely out of embarassment. What kills me about this is that the support forum is a volunteer army; no one is going to help you if you berate those that try. “Did you look in the book?” is a standard question in response to help in any field, if the answer is a little obvious.

I pointed out to the OP above that there was no need to call anyone names, so naturally (out of even more embarassment) I was berated also. I apologized to the forum community for attempting to teach couth to someone needing a reminder, and let it go. However, the experience reminded me of something I've always believed: you have to decide if what you are doing is going to help, or it is more like mud-wrestling a pig.....

Why, oh why does seem to be the porcine solution so often???

This article is part of the GWB Archives. Original Author: Theo Moore

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