On Tue, 8 Jul 2008 14:24:47 -0500, Eric Bielefeld wrote: >The attitude below seems typical of several people on this list. I always >found that when programmers asked me dumb questions, if you explained things >to them and why they worked the way they did, you have a good chance of >giving them the knowledge they need. Then you ask them questions so that >you know they understood you. I found that they then learned something that >might make them more productive and not ask you the same question later.
I agree, Eric. I have always been advised against giving information to users, operators, programmers, etc. on the grounds that they were all dummies. It was said that they could not be trained, especially if it was perceived that they should already know. Further, it was contended, giving the user-dummies information would only make them dangerous. I have never followed that advice. I've worked with hundreds of people who were alleged to be too stupid to learn to do things right. Every one of them was better off for having things explained to them. In my experience, the user-dummy always benefits from whatever education you can give him. The organization always benefits as well. </soapbox> -- Tom Marchant ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
