Posters ignoring prior posts...

I don't know if it's just me but there seems to be an ever increasing number of posters who seem to completely disregard prior posts on a thread when posting their own "offerings" ?
(Not just on those threads that I partake in I should add )

I will post additional approaches only where I believe there to be more efficient methods than those offered already or where I see a potential flaw in a solution offered already ... others (eg shg, ddll) do likewise to me and I see that as a great thing as it is IMO the best way to learn the most efficient methods available to us.

However, even as a relative newbie here I do seem to see increasing numbers of posts where the solutions offered are either

a) a duplicate of another solution already offered by another member

or worse still

b) more inefficient than those offered ...

it would be great to have something in the rules for those answering threads along the lines of:

"Test your solutions before offering to OP"
"Test those solutions already offered before responding"
"Do not duplicate solutions already offered "

The above are not meant to be draconian rules more as a show of respect & act of common courtesy to your fellow members.

Grumble out...

I have noticed a lot of that too... Most are newcomers or people that have not been around in a while trying to make themselves known....then there are also the few that have been around and just want to get their post counts up.. it seems.

I know that happens quite a lot at the "other" large forum... that is one main reason I very rarely post over there anymore.

I do feel the same about that and it ticks me off a little too.

We should indeed investigate some of those rules or suggestions...

On the other hand, sometimes some of us are too quick to reply to every possible thread that it doesn't really give others much chance (or choice) but to reply to existing threads with alternate solutions, etc...

I know what happens to me often is I open up the post and I will check my solution (often to find it needs amending so this isn't always a short period) and when I have it working, I post only to find that 2 other people have already said what I said (or something similar). Should I go back and delete that post to avoid confusion?

Hijacking this thread to address MY pet peeve, the OPs who get four responses ranging from appalling to appealing, and respond with, "Thanks, you guys are awesome!!"

Aside from the lack of courtesy, it leaves other people looking for a solution no hint as to which worked or why.

We do have some OPs that do just the opposite: "Bob, yours was perfect, thanks. Joe, yours worked as well, but I preferred Bob's solution without the helper column -- but thanks very much anyway. Bill, it's a pain to deploy VBA in our environment, though I really appreciate you responding."

Those guys I jump to help.

[/hijack]

Originally Posted by DonkeyOte

Iit would be great to have something in the rules for those answering threads along the lines of:

"Test your solutions before offering to OP"
"Test those solutions already offered before responding"
"Do not duplicate solutions already offered "

The above are not meant to be draconian rules more as a show of respect & act of common courtesy to your fellow members.

Grumble out...

DonkeyOte, i would agree in different circumstances, however, the help sought and the help or advice given is free, and with that in mind the op should weigh up the usefulness or validity of such offerings. We ALL started somewhere, and those that are eager to help with what in your opinion may not be the best or most efficient method, are, starting out on that road, who are we to say that they haven't given the best solution?, as in most cases the best solution is the one that works for the op.

Some folk learn by reworking or reverse engineering solutions, by this method they also build solutions, patching together pieces of code they have picked up, if that "Heath Robinson" approach worked for the op then all well and good, the would be helper will soon look at what they have done and try to make it neater and more efficient, isn't that how we all started?

People flock here because it is organised, helpful and friendly (although some may beg to differ when being quoted the rules that they haven't followed, which are there to make this a comfortable place for everyone!), membership here has ballooned, i think to impose restrictions on offerings or "advice" that they must follow will kill that!

I think even worse is when a reply is given that works exactly as requested and the OP says it doesn't work, obviously without testing it properly. This happened to me the other day and the OP seemed happy with an answer that didn't do what the original request asked for.

Who is Heath Robinson? Should we ban him, or bump his rep?

Originally Posted by shg

Who is Heath Robinson? Should we ban him, or bump his rep?

Lol, you're cruzin' close to the wire!, made me laugh though so i suppose a stay of execution is in order.

Originally Posted by Simon Lloyd

We ALL started somewhere, and those that are eager to help with what in your opinion may not be the best or most efficient method, are, starting out on that road, who are we to say that they haven't given the best solution?, as in most cases the best solution is the one that works for the op.

....i think to impose restrictions on offerings or "advice" that they must follow will kill that!

I couldn't agree more. I don't think there's any harm in alternatives (whether technically inferior or not) being given - it all adds to the sense of community in the forum too.

Richard

OK, well it seems as though general consensus is: I'm a miserable bas*ard...

Did you feel that ? Shockwave...

Originally Posted by DonkeyOte

OK, well it seems as though general consensus is: I'm a miserable bas*ard...

Well, we do refer to you as 'Victor' behind your back over at MrExcel.com

Not just you... my brothers both refer to me as: "Meldrew the Younger"