Why do so many posters have their locality....a secret

[Mike375]

Why do so many posters have their locality....a secret

I know it is not unique to this site.

What really puzzles me is the posters (asking questions) whose native language is not English....and their post looks like something from a 20 year old done via the mobile phone....If they had their location they would get a better response.

As a group, the Americans on different sites seem to be the most secretive.

As a side note, why do you think the vast majority of posters on this site have no locality and are good for no more than 2 or 3 postings.

 

[David Eagar]

Possibly for the same reason they hide behind aliases?

 

[Ron_dK]

...If they had their location they would get a better response.

Why ?
I don't think the location has any relevance to the response.
The ones who have specific questions, will get specific answers, regardless
of the location.

As a group, the Americans on different sites seem to be the most secretive.

How would you know if the location/country is not in the posters profile ?

 

[ChrisO]

I totally agree with Mike on this.

Stating a location can help in a couple of ways…

1.
It can alert us to the possible use of different regional settings. For example, date formats, date separators, decimal separators and list separators can have an effect on the building of SQL strings and charts in particular.

2.
Even more difficult, in fact if we don’t know about it it’s almost impossible to pick, is the use of a non-English version of Access. Since Rak is from the Dutch mountains let’s look at the Dutch version. If we are building an SQL string in a procedure and pass that procedure a Boolean of 0 then the English version of Access will convert that 0 to False. The SQL string now has False in and that’s OK. If we run the same code in the Dutch version the 0 is translated into Waar and is included in the SQL string. It works in English but not in Dutch because the SQL parser only knows English, (SQL was once called Structured English Query Language (SEQUEL))

1. can be tested by us changing our regional settings to the users if we know what those settings are.

2. we can’t test because our version is in English and their’s may not be.

As to why they leave it blank I take the view that either they don’t know it would help and/or they are simply being lazy.

Regards,
Chris.

 

[Mike375]

Possibly for the same reason they hide behind aliases?

In the past some site owners frowned on using "real name". The reason being the poster might not be the person.

 

[Mike375]

How would you know if the location/country is not in the posters profile ?

On guns/hunting and car sites it is very easy to pick who is American, European and Australian.

 

[Rich]

Why does it bother you?

 

[GaryPanic]

Doesn't bother me one way or the other, however if we knew x was from Mars then we might pitch our response aimed att his level etc

 

[Kinger43]

What really puzzles me is the posters (asking questions) whose native language is not English....and their post looks like something from a 20 year old done via the mobile phone....If they had their location they would get a better response.

I agree with Mike. Posts that look like what Mike specifies here (although I would think more like 16 year old girl) are very difficult to read. Personally, if I could see the location it would make it easier to decipher because I would know what language they speak.

 

[Brianwarnock]

I agree with Mike on this plus it would explain delays in response due to time differences.lus if you know that the first language may not be English no matter how well written, then I would avoid idiomatic phrases etc

Brian

 

[Ron_dK]

....let’s look at the Dutch version. If we are building an SQL string in a procedure and pass that procedure a Boolean of 0 then the English version of Access will convert that 0 to False. The SQL string now has False in and that’s OK. If we run the same code in the Dutch version the 0 is translated into Waar and is included in the SQL string. It works in English but not in Dutch because the SQL parser only knows English, (SQL was once called Structured English Query Language (SEQUEL))

Did you test that Chris ?

Just noted that an approx. 90 % of Access user in NL are working with
the English version. Even on a Dutch Access forum, I have never come across problems with using Dutch/English version.
But hey, I probably belong to that 90% group.

 

[ChrisO]

>>Did you test that Chris?<<

Since I do not speak Dutch, or have a Dutch version of Access, I had to track down the error with a friend that does and has.
(It’s the only reason I know that Waar in Dutch is False in English and that Access has a Dutch version.)

Pass it on to the 10% of the people who are using the Dutch version and see what you get and please post back here with the replies.

Regards,
Chris.

 

[Mike375]

Is there a disadvantage to having locality listed in the profile???

 

[ChrisO]

G’day Rak.

Actually Waar in Dutch = True in English (Shows you how much I know.)
But the problem still stands, SQL in both languages are not always combatable.

Attached is a test database that should work in English but not in Dutch.

Regards,
Chris.

 

[boblarson]

...SQL in both languages are not always combatable.

Chris:

Freudian slip, maybe?

I know that they aren't always compatible.

 

[ColinEssex]

Is there a disadvantage to having locality listed in the profile???

Only if you are based in the USA. They're most probobly adhering to their state dept advice and not admitting they are from the USA.

Much better to say you're Canadian - or if you're really game, say you are based in Australia. Then no-one takes you seriously unless it's how to drink from a tinny or cook on a barbie.

Col

 

[ChrisO]

Well I was close…

SQL in both languages are always combatable.

 

[Rich]

Is there a disadvantage to having locality listed in the profile???

Is there an advantage?

 

[Ron_dK]

G’day Rak.

Actually Waar in Dutch = True in English (Shows you how much I know.)
But the problem still stands, SQL in both languages are not always combatable.

Attached is a test database that should work in English but not in Dutch.

Regards,
Chris.

Chris,

I can't test this, since I don't have a Dutch Access version.

Maybe I overlooked something , but I can't see any queries or SQL in this Dbase.
So where would an error occur ?

Cheers, Ron

Nb. : It is true that waar = true

 

[ChrisO]

G’day Ron.

>>It is true that waar = true?<<

Perhaps, but that’s the point I’m trying to make.

Without the Dutch version, or any other natural language version of Access, it’s impossible to test.
I took the time to remove the fix for other natural language versions of Access so that people using other versions could test it and debug it for themselves.

Please post it as is on the site you mentioned and see what turns up from the other 10%.

If anyone want’s to try to debug this in the English version of Access then just go for it.

Good luck,
Chris.