lmgtfy.com

smooney · 2015-07-03T06:18:43.000Z

Bottman:

Sometimes it’s difficult; especially when the person posting the question appears to be promoting themselves as an “IT Pro”, “Network Engineer” etc.

Even worse when they ask a really basic question that shows they have put not thought into asking the question, let alone trying to find an answer.

Hey ho! Such is life!

Yeh totally agree, saw a thread this week, where the OP on there profile said they had 10 years experience and an MCSE and various other certs, and yet the question they said was so basic… if someone has an MCSE on there profile I

Gary-D-Williams · 2015-07-03T06:25:50.000Z

Bottman:

Sometimes it’s difficult; especially when the person posting the question appears to be promoting themselves as an “IT Pro”, “Network Engineer” etc.

Even worse when they ask a really basic question that shows they have put no thought into asking the question, let alone trying to find an answer.

Hey ho! Such is life!

I don’t mind if it’s a basic question and they have at least tried, we’ve all had brain farts like that at times but it’s when they post stuff like:

“How to install Windows”

that I really want to just post a lmgtfy link. I did once and rightly got told off for it but it’s still tempting

Dukat · 2015-07-03T08:02:00.000Z

"We sometimes see SpiceHeads ask very common, easy questions, and our gut reaction is to reply with some snark. But new SpiceHeads are also an important part of the Spiceworks Community, so we ask that you don’t just respond with a LMGTFY link. Remember that these posters honestly don’t know how to find an answer to their question, so they look to you for help.

The best way to help out when it comes to bad question is to teach them the right way to find the solution. Provide the answer and then information about how you came to it, for example.

In the worst-case, feel free to report a topic to the Community Managers as a bad question, and we can reach out to them with some tips and tricks for asking better questions."

I’ve gotten one, and to be honest I think it’s a bit crazy that we can’t respond with a lmgtfy link. There has been an influx of new members and while it’s unreasonable for us to expect only IT people (or people with a decent level of intelligence) to register, the sheer lack of ANY common sense when posting or asking a question (if you can even call it that) by a lot of new people has been so bad that it doesn’t warrant even a LMGTFY link.

Plus, LMGTFY is not really snarky. If someone asks something, says they can’t find how to do it (or in a lot of cases haven’t bethered even trying google), using LMGTFY actually does show the user how to find the answer. So therefore LMGTFY is the answer to the pre-canned load of… that sometimes gets sent when there is a LMGTFY link. Recursive loop, paradox, divide by zero, whatever… LOL

Dukat · 2015-07-03T08:02:58.000Z

Bottman:

Sometimes it’s difficult; especially when the person posting the question appears to be promoting themselves as an “IT Pro”, “Network Engineer” etc.

Even worse when they ask a really basic question that shows they have put no thought into asking the question, let alone trying to find an answer.

Hey ho! Such is life!

Like a Systems Administrator, in IT for over 8 years, asking essentially “Durr, how do I domain controller”…

/facedesk.

smooney · 2015-07-03T08:28:08.000Z

Dukat:

Bottman:

Sometimes it’s difficult; especially when the person posting the question appears to be promoting themselves as an “IT Pro”, “Network Engineer” etc.

Even worse when they ask a really basic question that shows they have put no thought into asking the question, let alone trying to find an answer.

Hey ho! Such is life!

Like a Systems Administrator, in IT for over 8 years, asking essentially “Durr, how do I domain controller”…

/facedesk.

THIS THIS IS JUST SO MUCH WRONG!

Huw3481 · 2015-07-03T08:28:40.000Z

Dukat:

"We sometimes see SpiceHeads ask very common, easy questions, and our gut reaction is to reply with some snark. But new SpiceHeads are also an important part of the Spiceworks Community, so we ask that you don’t just respond with a LMGTFY link. Remember that these posters honestly don’t know how to find an answer to their question, so they look to you for help.

The best way to help out when it comes to bad question is to teach them the right way to find the solution. Provide the answer and then information about how you came to it, for example.

In the worst-case, feel free to report a topic to the Community Managers as a bad question, and we can reach out to them with some tips and tricks for asking better questions."

I’ve gotten one, and to be honest I think it’s a bit crazy that we can’t respond with a lmgtfy link. There has been an influx of new members and while it’s unreasonable for us to expect only IT people (or people with a decent level of intelligence) to register, the sheer lack of ANY common sense when posting or asking a question (if you can even call it that) by a lot of new people has been so bad that it doesn’t warrant even a LMGTFY link.

Plus, LMGTFY is not really snarky. If someone asks something, says they can’t find how to do it (or in a lot of cases haven’t bethered even trying google), using LMGTFY actually does show the user how to find the answer. So therefore LMGTFY is the answer to the pre-canned load of… that sometimes gets sent when there is a LMGTFY link. Recursive loop, paradox, divide by zero, whatever… LOL

These are the community rules as specified by the Community Managers.

Talk to them if you don’t like it

Dukat · 2015-07-03T08:35:18.000Z

Huw3481:

These are the community rules as specified by the Community Managers.

Talk to them if you don’t like it

Oh I know. So I reposted my LMGTFY link with a bunch of platitudes meant to appease the n00b so he didn’t cry to mommy. lol.

I think you can tell I’m not all about the PC bs… and I don’t mean Personal Computers…

Huw3481 · 2015-07-03T09:56:56.000Z

Dukat:

Huw3481:

These are the community rules as specified by the Community Managers.

Talk to them if you don’t like it

Oh I know. So I reposted my LMGTFY link with a bunch of platitudes meant to appease the n00b so he didn’t cry to mommy. lol.

I think you can tell I’m not all about the PC bs… and I don’t mean Personal Computers…

Won’t you think of the children?!?!

Dukat · 2015-07-03T10:08:41.000Z

Huw3481:

Won’t you think of the children?!?!

BWAHAHAHA

I do think of the children, and how so many parents placate their kids that they haven’t learned to think for themselves. Then, when they have to find something and make a post instead of searching, they get all hurt in the six because someone gave them a ink showing them how to google something.

At least I didn’t think of the kids like Fat Bastard did…

rayaustin2 · 2015-07-03T10:31:39.000Z

Google brought me here!

Huw3481 · 2015-07-03T11:58:45.000Z

rayaustin2:

Google brought me here!

searches Google for “please take this lunatic back 'kthxbai”

jackpottinger · 2015-07-03T12:14:26.000Z

Several of my users don’t know how to do anything but google I give them a URL and after a long pause they say “which link do I click?”

Even worse when they say it just brings up Bing.

Sean-Spiceworks · 2015-07-03T15:13:43.000Z

Huw3481:

These are the community rules as specified by the Community Managers.

Talk to them if you don’t like it

Let Me Google That For You (LMGTFY).

Feel free to teach SpiceHeads how to Google but do it in a nice way, rather than just replying “LMGTFY." Remember that they don’t know what they don’t know, so they look to leaders and mentors in the community to help show them the way in a manner that encourages them to make progress. If an answer is simple enough that it can be Googled, we recommend giving them the solution and explaining how you found it.

Huw is right (oh man, should I ever actually type that… I have a feeling it will come back to haunt me), we do have the rule but it isn’t because I’m rules happy (no, really, its not). This one used to come up time and time again from SpiceHeads who were not happy about just getting LMGTFY with information they already found on their own. Many times people end up in Spiceworks from Googling a question and are looking for a meatier answer.

While I’m sure there might a time and place for it, we’ve seen it cause more angst than actually help.

PatrickFarrell · 2015-07-03T15:20:48.000Z

In some cases that really warrant an LMGTFY link, I have just answered the question with a url that has the information. That almost always does the trick. They are happy and I’ve moved on to something else already.

Dukat · 2015-07-03T15:43:40.000Z

Sean (Spiceworks):

Huw3481:

These are the community rules as specified by the Community Managers.

Talk to them if you don’t like it

Let Me Google That For You (LMGTFY).

Feel free to teach SpiceHeads how to Google but do it in a nice way, rather than just replying “LMGTFY." Remember that they don’t know what they don’t know, so they look to leaders and mentors in the community to help show them the way in a manner that encourages them to make progress. If an answer is simple enough that it can be Googled, we recommend giving them the solution and explaining how you found it.

Huw is right (oh man, should I ever actually type that… I have a feeling it will come back to haunt me), we do have the rule but it isn’t because I’m rules happy (no, really, its not). This one used to come up time and time again from SpiceHeads who were not happy about just getting LMGTFY with information they already found on their own. Many times people end up in Spiceworks from Googling a question and are looking for a meatier answer.

While I’m sure there might a time and place for it, we’ve seen it cause more angst than actually help.

I’ve posted before after google has failed me. When I do, I tend to say that I searched for answers on google/spiceworks/wherever and either my google-fu is failing me or it’s just not there from what I see.

Sometimes I missed the info. Sometimes there just isn’t anything to help so I post.

But when people ask a question with no (helpful) details, haven’t appeared to search for an answer, and seem to just want us to do the heavy lifting for them, I call BS. Those are the ones that I have no problem with a lmgtfy link alone. Especially if I have searched it before and found it in 5 sec.

Maybe there should be a basic format that should be used when posing questions. What needs to be included, else the post can be deleted… Maybe not for all subgroups, but it could be a start. like:

What the problem is / what you are trying to do

What (systems/software) is involved

Errors you have received/screenshots/etc

Have you searched for an answer?

IDK.

But posts like this one, where the guy has allegedly been in IT for 8+ years and is a network and systems admin should not be asking a question as n00b as this… http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1046219-new-server-room

His most recent post before this was at least a year ago and lacked any helpful details either. I think we have people signing up who aren’t IT Pros, claim to be IT for X number of years, and look to those of us who know a thing or two to do the heavy listing… The majority of accounts that have been doing this seem to be peoples names, and seem to be from the same country (or at least the general area) of the world…

Here’s another.

http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1041584-domain-controller

I understand wanting to help new spiceheads and help people learn. However, posts like the ones above are a bit beyond that point.

Sean-Spiceworks · 2015-07-03T15:53:37.000Z

Dukat:

Sean (Spiceworks):

Huw3481:

These are the community rules as specified by the Community Managers.

Talk to them if you don’t like it

Let Me Google That For You (LMGTFY).

Feel free to teach SpiceHeads how to Google but do it in a nice way, rather than just replying “LMGTFY." Remember that they don’t know what they don’t know, so they look to leaders and mentors in the community to help show them the way in a manner that encourages them to make progress. If an answer is simple enough that it can be Googled, we recommend giving them the solution and explaining how you found it.

Huw is right (oh man, should I ever actually type that… I have a feeling it will come back to haunt me), we do have the rule but it isn’t because I’m rules happy (no, really, its not). This one used to come up time and time again from SpiceHeads who were not happy about just getting LMGTFY with information they already found on their own. Many times people end up in Spiceworks from Googling a question and are looking for a meatier answer.

While I’m sure there might a time and place for it, we’ve seen it cause more angst than actually help.

I’ve posted before after google has failed me. When I do, I tend to say that I searched for answers on google/spiceworks/wherever and either my google-fu is failing me or it’s just not there from what I see.

Sometimes I missed the info. Sometimes there just isn’t anything to help so I post.

But when people ask a question with no (helpful) details, haven’t appeared to search for an answer, and seem to just want us to do the heavy lifting for them, I call BS. Those are the ones that I have no problem with a lmgtfy link alone. Especially if I have searched it before and found it in 5 sec.

Maybe there should be a basic format that should be used when posing questions. What needs to be included, else the post can be deleted… Maybe not for all subgroups, but it could be a start. like:

What the problem is / what you are trying to do

What (systems/software) is involved

Errors you have received/screenshots/etc

Have you searched for an answer?

IDK.

But posts like this one, where the guy has allegedly been in IT for 8+ years and is a network and systems admin should not be asking a question as n00b as this… http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1046219-new-server-room

His most recent post before this was at least a year ago and lacked any helpful details either. I think we have people signing up who aren’t IT Pros, claim to be IT for X number of years, and look to those of us who know a thing or two to do the heavy listing… The majority of accounts that have been doing this seem to be peoples names, and seem to be from the same country (or at least the general area) of the world…

Here’s another.

http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1041584-domain-controller

I understand wanting to help new spiceheads and help people learn. However, posts like the ones above are a bit beyond that point.

Definitely don’t disagree… but that is why we have other rules (ALL THE RULEZ) such as: Make sure you give enough details when asking for help . No qualms about removing a topic that just doesn’t have nearly enough details to let other SpiceHeads know where to begin. That said, there is a decent amount of “grey” in moderation and the challenge with those is when people start engaging in them with a ton of helpful information… then the question (for us) becomes, should the topic be removed or is the information given (that others can learn from) outweighing the lack of information in the original post?

But if you see posts like that, definitely flag them so we can get to them early and remind SpiceHeads that if they are looking for help, well, they gotta help us help them with the right info in the questions/situation.

Dukat · 2015-07-03T15:55:34.000Z

And this is why I love spiceworks. We can have a discussion that we obviously have our strong opinions about but we don’t tear each other up like savages the way some other places tend to do. Usually. LOL

Huw3481 · 2015-07-03T17:50:13.000Z

Dukat:

And this is why I love spiceworks. We can have a discussion that we obviously have our strong opinions about but we don’t tear each other up like savages the way some other places tend to do. Usually. LOL

As long as you remember

PatrickFarrell · 2015-07-03T19:26:15.000Z

I don’t think we should actually ever use LMGTFY as an answer and I am certainly not advocating anyone do that. Water cooler is a nice place to vent that sometimes people really deserve it

Note: IT coworkers and close personal friends who ask dumb questions outside of spiceworks are fair game.

v-s · 2015-07-04T22:15:51.000Z

Let Me Google That For You (LMGTFY).

Feel free to teach SpiceHeads how to Google but do it in a nice way, rather than just replying “LMGTFY." Remember that they don’t know what they don’t know, so they look to leaders and mentors in the community to help show them the way in a manner that encourages them to make progress. If an answer is simple enough that it can be Googled, we recommend giving them the solution and explaining how you found it.

As long as you do it in a nice way, you can say LMGTFY and provide a link and copy the answer from the page, or mention the answer is on the page in the link and maybe include some some snippets . Don’t just reply LMGTFY and try to avoid the snark. Some people handle asking a question better than others after they’ve already been searching for the answer to a problem for X hours or days.

I have a tendency to link to the page and it’s an easy Google find, link to the search so they see the terms or just put the terms in the post, but I try keep the snark out of it.

Anything that is just a crappy question or lacking proper details, usually for 1st post cases, I also link to Asking Better Questions.