Well, if you're interested in doing business, do exactly what you did.
If you want to help out of the goodness of your heart, then help.
If you don't want to set a precedent, or start a trend, then suggest that a
good place for them to post their request would be on Lingo-L (assuming
it's a Lingo question) or Direct-L (if general Director topic).
Some people, generally beginners or students, will email people
directly. What you want to do with it is up to you. You could chastise
them, but I think most just don't know better and if you don't feel like
helping, or don't have the time, just nicely re-direct them. Usually works
best.
- Tab
At 10:17 AM 5/17/01 -0700, Kerry Thompson wrote:
>Good morning all,
>
>I'm curious as to how you handle unsolicited off-list requests.
>
>I just got a request, off-list, from a newbie seeking a programming
>solution. I won't mention this person's name, of course, but it was a name
>I only vaguely recall seeing.
>
>So I'm in a bit of a quandary. I'm normally happy to help, but I think
>his/her approaching me off-list was a breach of etiquette.
>
>I didn't want to flame the poor soul, so I simply played dumb--I replied
>with my standard consulting rate list, an estimate, and a request for an
>advance deposit. This is a student, though, and (I'm guessing here, based
>on the name), from a less wealthy country, so I was really just politely
>(more or less) turning away the request.
>
>Have you folks run into this? How do you usually handle it? Am I too
>tight-assed?
>
>
>Cordially,
>
>Kerry Thompson
>
>
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