On a separate thread (<http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API/ browse_thread/thread/fa4f97e0399f9432?hl=en>), Andrew Leach expressed a frequently-felt concern about people posting questions to the list without providing links to their maps. I agree with him that it's much more useful and helpful to all concerned -- the original poster, the API gurus, and all the rest of us learning from each exchange -- when posters follow the guidelines, especially regarding links.
Every morning (several time zones later than some) when I read the new posts and replies, I'm amazed at how much volunteer time, thought, and helpful spirit is wasted by the skilled and brilliant experts in this group, just coaxing people to make it easier or even possible to get some help. People get quite creative in justifying their linkless posts, but I have to say, Sorry, your excuses don't cut it. - Security? Post a stripped-down version with no trade secret or national security stuff. - Question too general or abstract? We don't really see many like that; most such queries would be more clear, and more readily answered, if you show us what you've tried, and give some evidence that you've explored the documentation and the excellent examples and tutorials for solutions. - Page not ready for prime time? You're talking to developers here; we all have pages under construction and revision; sharing our problems and solutions in-process is something we like to do. - Page is private? Then either you're violating the API Terms of Service, or you've paid for special help direct from Google. - Inexplicable errors that seem to emanate form deep within the Google Maps API? Yes, this does happen, but there's no way to tell why, much less cry "bug", until we see how you're getting the errors. - Embarrassed that you can't solve a problem? The best teachers remind their students that mistakes are their friends. Reading and understanding the documentation will bring many questions to mind. But learning comes from trying, not just from comprehending an idea; trying will bring mistakes as a matter of course. This list is VERY friendly for learning. No shame for simple mistakes, and huge insight for bigger problems. Anyway, Andrew proposes adding to/modifying the guidelines with this: "Important! Post a link to your map page. If you have a question, it's almost certainly because you have tried something and found a problem. Most developers here will not debug your problem or comment on your question unless you provide a URL to the map online. That's a link to the page with the map, not to the homepage, nor to a picture or a code listing. Even if your map is still being developed, if you need advice on it then you need to help the Group to help you." I like that. How about also revising the form for new posts, so that there is an input field for the map link. That could be merged into the message when it's posted. Also on the new post page, the scrolling box that pops up on the right is cool, but how about putting the basic guidelines in static text right on the page, so the poster gets how important it is to follow the guidelines... Besides Mike Williams, who can see your Javascript without an Internet connection :-), the experienced members of this list need something to work with if you want their help. Why act so rude and entitled towards volunteers helping you learn a free programming environment???? Best regards, --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps API" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
