Motivation to Contibute

[Galaxiom]

Some contributors here obviously put in a lot of their time responding to questions.
What is it that motivates you to do that?

 

[Banana]

For me; it's to keep my knowledge sharp & fresh. There's also a degree of lateral thinking involved; when I work on an unrelated problem, I discover solutions to my own problems.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I am a believer in "returning favors" - so because of the help I received here over many years, I have learned enough to be a GOTO guy (sorry, Nicklaus Wirth) at my company when the question relates to Access.

Like Banana, I find that deeply exploring a question mentally often exposes new facets or new ways of looking at problems.

I'm also an educator at heart. I want to share what I know so that at least some of what I've learned won't be lost. (For that same reason, I have long talks with my older grandson about life lessons sometimes.)

 

[Fifty2One]

It might not be so obvious that I put a lot of thought into each post but I try hard to type without having to spell or grammar check everything I write. I can not believe the number of people in the world who know (or maybe at one time knew) how to write a language and now only communicate with txtspk. People have even tried to pass off some SOPs at work in txtspk.

 

[georgedwilkinson]

I do it 'cause I'm Uber 1337 (JK, Fitty).

I enjoy helping people. I actually bought in to the whole re-usable project engineering concept, including re-use of classes, code, designs, analysis, etc. Since I've already been through a lot of this before, it seems like a waste of precious resources forcing someone else to go down the same exact path without at least a push in the right direction.

And there's something about Access that seems so simple once you actually "get it" but seems so incredibly complex before that time. I just like the idea of me helping people to "get it" and in the process, grokking it a little better myself.

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

I get at least as much out of this board as I put in - some of it by just reading the clever solutions other people -expert and amateur - offer; some of it by direct asking of questions, and some of it from the process of discussing and debating a potential solution, or having my assumptions and assertions challenged by people with a different perspective.

In order for all of that to happen, I find I have to take part in community in a more general sense than just what might seem to benefit me, but on top of that, there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had in helping others - especially if they're facing similar problems as I have in the past.

 

[DCrake]

At first I visited this site with specific intentions of finding a solution to a problem I had. I have this concept that Access won't beat me. Even if this means "climbing on the backs of giants". Over the years I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge regarding the sometimes quirky side of Access, its idiosyncracies, etc. Being self taught can sometimes put you at a disadvantage as simple concepts can be missed due to the fact that you have never come across them before. A perfect example springs to mind it the old Proper() function. for years I always had this to convert text correctly. Then all of a sudden I came across StrConv() what a difference it makes. Something simple as that can be very helpful. I that vein I like to pass on information and samples I have built in the past. Also I regularly come across snippets of info from other well educated people on this site and save them to my snippets folder.

Becuase I mainly program these days in VB6 I tend to use unbound forms, which is opposite to the general concensis of opinion here. But hey, whatever floats your boat, like they say.

I also get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I can help someone out with an issue that to them was mind blowing, but by asking the right question and getting a fresh perspective on the problem a simple solution is just around the corner.

Plus the job I do gives me alot of time to help people on this site and also it is a good way of keeping in touch with seasoned professionals and as such keeping up to date with current issues. Namely migrating to Access 2007. I have a version onstalled on my home laptop but have yet to put it into practice when creating a new application. The issues revolving around the migration from 2003 to 2007 still seem to be abundant, When it settles down I will make the move.

David

 

[ColinEssex]

Some contributors here obviously put in a lot of their time responding to questions.
What is it that motivates you to do that?

There's even some who loiter around the Who's Online section and see who is posting a new thread so they can be first to answer the question.

I think this gives them a sense of superiority (false of course, but not in their eyes). In fact the opposite happens, it stops some from even bothering to answer with their method and it antagonises other posters - so much so they think "why bother?, Know-it-all xxx will put in their (sometimes wrong) answer and think they are the star".

Odd that they can't see that they upset many by doing that.

Col

 

[DCrake]

Colin,

In an effort to test your theory about people hovering around the Who's Online section I cannot conceive the idea that trawling through it would enable me to Jump in first, as you put it, with a solution, be it right or wrong.

Yes it does tell me who is online and what they are doing at the moment, but until a new post has been submitted the actual post does not appear in the list. That is my belief anyway.

If I am online I tend to hover around the new posts section, now that does give me the chance to be first responder, should I feel inclinded to do so, or that I can provide a worthwhile solution. It also shows up spam posts and posters, to which end I can immediately delete the posts and ban the user.

David

 

[ColinEssex]

David,

The who's online section indicates when a person is creating a new thread, it also self-refreshes which saves having to do it manually.

When the new thread is created, those that have a sad life and nothing else to do can then pounce on the new thread and answer it within seconds of it being created.

Log on tonight and watch it happening if you don't believe me.

Col

 

[Galaxiom]

There's even some who loiter around the Who's Online section and see who is posting a new thread so they can be first to answer the question.

I think this gives them a sense of superiority (false of course, but not in their eyes). In fact the opposite happens, it stops some from even bothering to answer with their method and it antagonises other posters - so much so they think "why bother?, Know-it-all xxx will put in their (sometimes wrong) answer and think they are the star".

Odd that they can't see that they upset many by doing that.

Col

So you see it as a competition, Col? I certainly don't get the impression that anyone is showing off. I for one have always appreciated quick answers because they save a lot of anguish when the way forward is stuck on a problem.

If someone has nothing better to do than hang around the site then that is good for the people asking questions. I do it myself sometimes if the television programming gets a bit dull. I'm sorry if this has upset you. I would not have guessed this.

I hang about particularly if I am working with or studying Access programming at the time. There is so much to be learned by randomly wandering through old threads and it is easy to keep an eye on the board during times when there are less posters because of the timezone.

As a novice in Access I try to clear up the easy ones and I always look forward to the most experienced contributors taking on the hard questions. I would rather save them the time of answering easy questions so they can focus on explaining the tricky stuff.

By all means if you have anything at all to comment on a posted solution or have a different way of achieving the result then please contribute. Some of the biggest leaps in my understanding came from someone posting a one line "by the way" comment in a related context.

The other most productive posts for me have been those where a poster has suggested something that was incorrect or there were alternative better ways. Some of the most enlightening have been where I have posted a mistake myself.

I am grateful to those who round out posts with obscure details. I have seen many contributors add extra information when the OP has clearly solved their problem. This extra detail can be invaluable when the post is later stumbled upon by someone with a similar problem. Clearly these posters consider this place as a resource at least as much as a discussion forum. I know I do.

 

[Galaxiom]

David,

The who's online section indicates when a person is creating a new thread, it also self-refreshes which saves having to do it manually.

When the new thread is created, those that have a sad life and nothing else to do can then pounce on the new thread and answer it within seconds of it being created.

Log on tonight and watch it happening if you don't believe me.

Col

Thanks, I didn't know we could do that.

[Edit] But were is it? New Posts was the nearest thing I could find.

 

[DCrake]

Galaxy

If you go to Quick Links on the ribbon and select Who's Online (bottom option) you can see what each person is actually doing.

David

 

[ColinEssex]

Go to the home page. Scroll down to the list of who's online and click on the group of little people to the left of the names.

It is not a competition. I am merely pointing out the tactics of one or two who happen to seem to appear to want to be viewed as a supremo. Thus giving very few the chance to reply. I personally don't bother any more and I know there are others.

Col

 

[oumahexi]

I think this gives them a sense of superiority (false of course, but not in their eyes). In fact the opposite happens, it stops some from even bothering to answer with their method and it antagonises other posters - so much so they think "why bother?, Know-it-all xxx will put in their (sometimes wrong) answer and think they are the star".

Odd that they can't see that they upset many by doing that.

Col

Hmm, strange, I always think of this as a good thing. I often offer an answer and someone will quickly jump in with a better resolution. It's great, because not only does the op benefit, but I do too. And, yes, they are mostly stars on this forum, so they well deserve a badge of honour for their help.

I can see, though, how some may find this offensive if it happens consistently from the same person.

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

David,

The who's online section indicates when a person is creating a new thread, it also self-refreshes which saves having to do it manually.

When the new thread is created, those that have a sad life and nothing else to do can then pounce on the new thread and answer it within seconds of it being created.

Log on tonight and watch it happening if you don't believe me.

Col

Interesting. I had no idea this function existed.

In order to know that people are stalking the Who's Online section, don't you have to stalk the Who's Online section yourself?

 

[georgedwilkinson]

In order to know that people are stalking the Who's Online section, don't you have to stalk the Who's Online section yourself?

That would be creepy.

 

[Kryst51]

grokking it a little better myself.

what is that term "grokking" from, I know I have heard it, either in a book or a movie. It will drive me nuts if I don't know, actually, for the benefit of others I just googled it and it originates from Robert A. Heinlein's book "A Stranger in a Strange Land". I've read this book before, but couldn't remember it off the top of my head. Great book, good read.

 

[Brianwarnock]

David,

The who's online section indicates when a person is creating a new thread, it also self-refreshes which saves having to do it manually.

When the new thread is created, those that have a sad life and nothing else to do can then pounce on the new thread and answer it within seconds of it being created.

Log on tonight and watch it happening if you don't believe me.

Col

I also didn't know that you could do this, but having looked at it I think that it would be a darn sight easier to just hit the NewPosts icon at regular intervals.

Personally I'm happy for anybody to give instant answers, as I'm sure are the questioners, it doesn't stop others contributing their pennyworth if they have an additional point.

As to the original thread question I would say that the site performance is seriously undermining my motivation to be here.

Brian

 

[Kryst51]

I contribute, because I like the help I have received on this site, plus in answering peoples questions, I have gained so much more knowlege. I can understand people better, or recognize certain problems easier. Plus, I gain ideas to put on the back burner for any new projects of mine. Also, I feel as sense of accomplishment when I anser correctly. I like being able to help people. Gosh I could go on, but I think my sentiments on the matter are clear.