I vehemently argued against that point of view, and I continue to believe that posting blog post links in the answer (or even as the answer) is entirely justified. There was an interesting debate on the MVP email list a week or so ago about this, where someone said they hesitate to post blog post links as an answer because it can come across as self-promotion. Here’s another one: posting links in question answers. Ok – that’s one of my hot-button topics done. That’s the height of conceit, it’s bullying, and it’ll likely drive the OP away from our wonderful online SQL Server community. Don’t slap someone down for not knowing the answer. Especially if the OP is someone you don’t know, give them the benefit of the doubt and treat them with respect for having the guts to ask a question publicly to get help. I knew zero about SQL Server when I joined Microsoft from DEC in February 1999 (15 years ago – OMG – I’m getting old!! :-). (Also check out the insightful comments about Google searches in the comment from I explained in my post Ignorance is not stupidity back in 2011, everyone in the world starts with zero knowledge about SQL Server.
Even if it’s something really simple about SQL Server.
If i remember correctly how to#
If it’s not a simple Google search, or I can tell from the question that the OP wouldn’t know what to search on, or how to make sense of the search results, or know which one to choose, then I’ll answer politely and explain the answer. Others disagree with this sentiment, I know, and will happily post LMGTFY links – each to his/her own. But sometimes I’ll just post a Google search URL (especially on Twitter), which does the same thing, but without the added snark, as that would just make me look angry. I even shy away from posting Let Me Google That For You links in such cases as I think that comes across as too snarky, and I like to stay polite as much as I can. Now, if a simple Google search would have found the answer, then I can understand some frustration on the part of the answerer, and I suffer from it myself, but that’s no excuse to be rude or belittling. Probably the number one sin I see people committing when answering questions is giving an attitude to the original poster (who I’ll call the OP from now on) that they’re stupid/lacking/deficient/lazy in some way for not knowing the answer themselves. We’ll agree to disagree :-) Ignorance is Not Stupidity
That’s cool, this is just my opinion – vive la différence, and all that – but don’t expect to convince me to change my views. I’ll start out by saying that some of you will disagree with elements of what I state below. I’ve woven in some of the replies and private distribution list discussions I’ve had over the last two months as well – thanks to those involved – you know who you are. This is the necessary corollary to that post – how to answer questions politely and correctly, in my opinion – because I see people being discourteous and sometimes unprofessional in their replies.
Based on the responses, and private discussions, many of you out there see the same trend and are dismayed by it. Back in August I wrote a long post about how to ask questions politely and correctly to address what I see as a growing volume of poorly asked questions by people who often don’t have the common courtesy to be polite and also often come across as feeling entitled to an answer.
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