On Thu May 6 2004 10:49, Michael Walters wrote: <snip> > accounts. I was just a few pages short of that chapter when I could not > figure out why I could not mount the file system on a floppy as Michael. I > will not bother the list again about this topic until I have thoroughly red > that text material, and I expect that after I have absorbed it, I will be > able to tell you how I successfully solved the problem and have given my > friend a user account on my computer. > > The answer I wanted was only seven pages away from where I was puzzling.
I think this happens to all of us at one time or another. I know I have e-mailed more than one "911" support call to the list, only to figure the solution out for myself shortly thereafter. I think this happens for a couple of reasons: <puts on wannabe-psychologist hat> 1) The most obvious factor is a desire for human interaction, especially during times of stress or confusion (like when I overwrote my MBR with nothing ;-). It's comforting to feel supported in a time of need, instead of alone and clueless. 2) The other factor I have pondered recently is the way we as humans store and retrieve information. There's probably doctoral theses about this, but basically I've been thinking we retrieve information by asking questions and receiving contextually-relevant information from another person (who use advanced search and filter algorithms without even trying). Google is extremely helpful, and even adapts to your search patterns (that still amazes me -- ain't technology cool? ;-). But sometimes a knowledgable person is a much, much faster way to get information (because we tend to sort and access information by human relevance, not just by algorithmic process). Point being, the above factor just adds to the impetus causing you to ask another person for the answer when you're on the ropes -- you don't have to think straight, they do (with no additional cost to them, since they're not stressing and just doing what comes naturally). You (usually) get a (reasonably) straight path to the answer in return, which is what you need to eliminate the stress. </takes off wannabe-psych hat> All of that to say, don't worry about it. :-) That's what we're here for. If anyone abused the "cry for help" support (i.e. wouldn't bother to _ever_ try learning for themselves), I'm sure we'd tell them to "Google off", or something to that effect. ;-) To ensure a contribution of at least some worth in this e-mail, now might be a good time to link to Eric Raymond's ubiquitous "How to ask questions the smart way" FAQ: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Going rates: Thoughts -- usually 2 cents Musings and ramblings -- possibly 0 cents :-) Curtis > > Regards, > > Michael Walters - tier two member > > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
