> >...there are those who give and those who
> >like to take. I've a pretty good idea who the "takers" are and
> >ignore them. Which isn't as brutal or churlish as "I've got what
> >you want but you can't have it because you don't appreciate
> >help", but the result is ultimately the same - they are denied
> >what they want because of their demeanour
>
> Don't suppose you'd care to elaborate on that, would you?
> My own experience with such things is that on any mailing list
> you can probably divide people into about four categories:
> (a)  Those who know everything, (b) those who know a lot, (c)
> those who know a little, and (d) those who know nothing.
>People in categories c and d will almost never respond.............

I agree with your categorisation of a mailing list. With such a
broad subject as electronics it's only natural that you'd have
an equally broad range of proficiency and knowledge. I guess
I'm in the middle somewhere, up on some things, down on
others, and if you consider practical experience you could say
that about most of us

You did miss (e) - the vast majority who belong to a list but
say nothing. Ever. What could they contribute ? We'll never
know I suppose

The other thing about an informational forum like this of course
is that no one is required to provide a answer or can demand
one. Getting back to my position - based I must emphasise
on personal experiences and observations - if someone asks
for help (directly to the list and therefore to me indirectly) I can
choose whether or not to answer, assuming I have the time to
do it or can make time

There are some people who do not acknowledge or outwardly
appreciate the help they asked for. In which case, as altruistic
as I am, I'd say to myself then why bother helping this person in
the future ? Imagine what would happen in real life if no one ever
said "Thanks" for anything. Just because it's an electronic
interaction doesn't mean that common courtesy can be
dispensed with. And apart from anything else, a "thank you"
is also part of the information-sharing process, especially if it's
accompanied by a few comments. It indicates to the responder
and others that the help offered was useful in some way, either
positively or negatively. Perhaps there's something that the
responder can learn too if it didn't work. It can lead to other things
- maybe further dialogue or a future exchange. The absence of
"thanks" kind of puts a full stop on things eh ? Did the suggestion
work ? Did it blow up ? Did you improve on it ?

But I'm a realist. People get busy, they meant to say thanks but
got side-tracked, might think a reply was unnecessary or would
just clutter up the mail. Heck, I'm guilty of doing all those things
from time to time but you try and make the effort (even just add
a TIA to the request). It just seems to me that some don't - they
got what they wanted and they're off. Maybe it's a cultural thing,
I don't know (read into that what you may)

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