Maybe wearing another person's shoes for awhile can also help us to view a situation from another perspective. I couldn't help to remember a great blog I read here on SDN quite sometime ago. I've included the URL above. It was entitled Ethics and Fair Treatment. It was so good that I wish Mr. Cmehil would post one just like it every couple of years.
Since January I have noticed a forum topic inside the ‘Test and Playground Forum’, it is called ‘The Hall of Testing, Wall of Playing and Fear of Searching awards’. Here, the names of those who are the top offenders in forums are listed. It appears that these names also have the potential to be linked to their employers as well. So, I ask, WHY?
Isn’t this unprofessional sarcasm? Tell me how this adds a positive perspective to SAP’s Forums. Is it really necessary to make this public? Or, is this something that the administrators can keep between them elves in an effort to keep SCN running smoothly? Maybe it is a scare tactic so that others will not abuse the system….kind of archaic isn’t it? It is even hard to believe that any leadership at SCN has failed to see the negativity and unconstructiveness of this practice.
I myself have been slapped on the wrists for not putting enough effort into many of my posts. And, I have to agree with some of those corrections, but some I do not. It almost becomes discriminatory when one members post is moved to a forum that is not even related to their question, and another’s is not. OK, so a moderator judges one post as good, and another as bad. To me, this is antiquated thinking. At least put the bad posts in the same category so they can be seen. Again, is this punishment?
There must be a better, more modern, way to handle individuals who abuse SCN. Maybe they do not know any other way. SAP is a leader, but, to me, this shows poor direction. Also, may I suggest that if posts are in question then the decision, which many times may be based on one’s own anticipated thinking, should be made by more than one individual. And, please, at least move questions deemed as incomplete to a category within the topic.
Myself, I do not use the forums as I use to because I see this very negative attitude coming from some moderators. If I had hours to research a question before I post it, then I wouldn’t need to post it. However, I still get stuck on many issues that this seemingly recent strictness of the forums has blocked me from reaching out for help. OK, my efforts to avoid embarrassment while using the forums will continue….almost afraid to ask a question. But I remember something I heard once, “The only dumb question is the one not asked”. But, this does not seem to be motto any longer in the forums.
Oh, one last thing about points. Myself, they are not that important to me, I'd rather just get an answer.
