Klarinet Archive - Posting 000133.txt from 1998/02

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.com>
Subj: How _not_ to ask for help
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 1998 10:55:55 -0500

Just a little bit for those who need help:

I run the Clarinet Pages; it's a hobby of mine and I
thoroughly enjoy meeting (via e-mail, mostly) the people
who visit. Many people ask me questions on a daily basis;
if they're on technique or playing or music, I pass them
to the proper pages or people. If they're on equipment,
many times I can answer the question myself. I direct people
to the Klarinet archives. I _don't_ mind doing this, but
yesterday I got one of the requests that get my dander up.
Paraphrased:

"Dear Mr. Sneezy,
I need to know about the Clarinet Warmups by the infamous
Dr. Spring. Could you email me their location or the article
ASAP."

Looks pretty innocuous. Except:
There's a site map on the menu of every blessed page on
the Clarinet Pages, and in the site map is a heading
"Warmup and Practice". Surprise - the reference to the
article is there.

There's also a database on Sneezy that cross references most
of the text. Searching there brought up the information.

ASAP? I don't think so. Maybe this person has no idea what
those letters stand for. In fact - probably doesn't. Read on.

I sent a snippy reply back, pointing them to the site map,
database, and asking if they wanted it ASAP why weren't they
paying me? I also asked "Why do you consider Bob Spring to be
evil?" Maybe Bob's students call him infamous - but this
person isn't a student of his.

Interesting response last night. This person wondered why
I was snippy (OK - I was a bit rude - but I did point them in
the right direction), said he doesn't sit in front of computer
"24/7", and he has to practice and "has a life". I guess I'm
not supposed to have one, hmmm? He then explained to me that
"Dr. Spring is a well-known clarinet ... - that's why he's
infamous." Made me wonder about the ASAP.

So, if you're looking for information - check about a bit
before asking the question. Most anyone with Web pages or
who posts regularly on Klarinet would welcome being asked
questions within their expertise - but please, do it politely,
don't make demands, and do a little homework first.
--
Mark Charette, Webmaster - http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet
Web/Personal - charette@-----.org
Business - charette@-----.com
"There's already an educational TV channel - it's called 'off'."
Lily Henderson, age 11