A god in the Excel Forum World

[Alf]

Having attained this level of nearly godhood I wonder if it’s possible to put this status to some use.

Recently I suggested using trying “Auto filter” to a plea of help from an OP. He posts back saying “I haven’t tried that as I am not familiar with macro. Please assist.” Which I translate as “I don’t won’t to do this work, please give me a solution with bells and whistles.”

So can I tell him that “god only help those who helps themselves” or is that contrary to forum rules?

I also wonder if I could have a button so I could shift between “good” and “bad” mode so the OP can check my status and realize the this answer was given in “bad” mode and running this macro will wipeout the file, break the hard disk and put the PC on fire.

Alf

[oeldere]

@Alf

I'm no moderator.

But to my opinion it's allowed to have that statement.

It's not a make a usefull working Excel file forum.

But an Excel help forum.

Any cooperation of the OP is wanted, so the OP has better excel skills in the future.

[Andrew-R]

I also wonder if I could have a button so I could shift between “good” and “bad” mode so the OP can check my status and realize the this answer was given in “bad” mode and running this macro will wipeout the file, break the hard disk and put the PC on fire.

Maybe in your sig each day you could specify 'Old Testament God' or 'New Testament God' - then the mortals would know what to expect.

[snb]

I have been punished by Teylyn suggesting to an OP to start at the beginning of acquiring VBA skills by studying a book.....

[arlu1201]

Nice answer oeldere...

[Alf]

Maybe in your sig each day you could specify 'Old Testament God' or 'New Testament God' - then the mortals would know what to expect.

I think that would be an "overkill" as hovering with the mouse pointer over my green dots you will observe that "becoming a god ..." is not written with a capital "G" so I'm only acquiring minor deity status.

Alf

[john55]

I have been punished by Teylyn suggesting to an OP to start at the beginning of acquiring VBA skills by studying a book.....

it takes too much time...
coffee?! LoL

[Alf]

Hi oeldere & snb

I’m sorry I did not manage to answer the two of in my pervious posting but “She who must be obeyed” i.e. my wife called me away to do something else.

Yes I also think that this is a help forum so I prefer the OP’s that makes an effort to solve their problems before asking for help. So I’ll ask this OP to make an effort first and tell me where he gets stuck but often their next post just contains the line “I’m stuck”. So how does one respond to that?

Then there is the OP that starts by telling he does not have so much experience working with excel and has never written any macro still he often asks for a quite sophisticate piece of code that he doesn’t understand and have no chance of correcting when things go wrong. As you say snb the best advice is “Go read a book about VBA first” but from your comments I guess this is a no no.

You said it John, time for a cup of coffee.

Alf

[JBeaucaire]

A differing point of view....

1) If you respond AT ALL to a thread, for good or bad, most other contributors may not even read the post, ever. So you really need to think long and hard about whether you should respond AT ALL to a thread you're unhappy with the original question posed. Once you start the discussion AT ALL, you just may turn out to be the only chance they have to get this answered due to other forum rules against "starting over in a new thread".

2) Once you decide to answer, keep in mind that personal agendas regarding how much an OP should or shouldn't do at the start does not equate to forum policy. It's a personal policy. If you enforce your personal policy on this OP's thread making them do more work than other contributor's might require, you may also be taking this person's thread out of the reach of those other lesser-strict helpers, so see 1) above and consider again if you should respond at all.

3) If you do pursue and respond and impose your additional requirements on this OP, act responsibly. Remember you're imposing your own rules on them so be considerate at all times through that process, you may have to help them DO SOMETHING, so be prepared to help them understand that, as well. You must follow the existing rules regarding courteous discourse, so do not berate your OPs.


There are other forums where the entire forum operates on the "show us what you've done so far before asking your question, prove to us you're not a leech." This forum has never had that policy, desirable as that may be.


So summary, if you add more rules and try to enforce them on a thread, you may OWN that thread as you'll be alone and that OP's only hope, in many instances. Choose this path with care.

(fade to black)

[jaslake]

Well stated JB