In SX Microcontrollers, SX/B Compiler and SX-Key Tool, PJMonty wrote:

Kevin,

This is one of those things that cuts both ways.  It's pretty clear that Xtreme didn't even assemble his code the first time he posted it because it won't even assemble as it was written.  When someone hasn't even taken care of step one (making sure the code will assemble), it tends to put people off wanting to help.  If he wanted help with explaining why he was getting error messages, that would be one thing,  Instead, it was simply posted with a "Here you go forum people" kind of message, leaving you to assume that he wanted members here to debug and correct his code.  That's just not the way it works.  At some point, beginners have to do some of the work.  

In addition, Xtreme has stated a couple of times that he "doesn't know how to set the wires in the board".  First, I think that English is a second language for Xtreme, so that's always a challenge for both sides.  Second, his statement is incredibly vague (see previous sentence), which makes it hard for anyone to figure out what is being asked.  Third, in my post on 4/20, I specifically take a guess at what Xtreme wants and Jon offers up that a sample is available.  However, Xtreme never once commented on this to say if the guess was wrong and provide clarification of what he meant, or to thank anyone if it was right.  This also makes people less interested in helping.

Folks here try to help out as much as possible, but so often the people who post come with an attitude that as long as they have done some bare minimum amount of work that the forum should leap to their feet and do the rest for them.  I am not saying that Xtreme is necessarily doing that, but it feels dangerously close.  Perhaps this is the language barrier (if I'm right about that), but once again, this tends to put most people off being willing to help.  

Finally, you mention that, "Maybe he doesn't have a lifetime to search all over the forum or website."  Well, lets put the shoe on the other foot.  If he doesn't have the time to search, what makes him or you or anyone think that the rest of us have the time to do it for him?  Nothing is more frustrating than someone who can't or won't do even the most rudimentary Google search for answers, and that is something I see all too often on the forums.  Remember, all the help given here is voluntary, so the folks asking for help need to bend over backwards, not the folks giving the answers.

I agree that we should all have a positive attitude, but I think you missed the point of Bongo's post completely.  I think Bongo's post has an extremely positive attitude.  It wasn't a "Let me change your diaper and tuck you into bed" attitude, but more of a "It's time for you to learn how to use the free resources at hand and then come back with more specific questions" attitude.  Showing that you have tried and failed before asking for help gets a lot more respect than coming to the forum and just saying, "Teach me everything I need to know."  Bongo is trying to nudge Xtreme into the "More Respect" category.

[list]Thanks,
PeterM[/list]

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