Over the course of many years, I have been a member of many communities online. In many of these communities I have been recognized as a computer "expert" of some sort. I don't claim to be an expert, but I do know a thing or two, and usually I'm happy enough to share what I know, and help people out of my own free will.
The problem comes in at the term, "my own free will." I don't mind volunteering but when somebody volunteers you for something against your will, it becomes a problem. It is at this point that I end up feeling pressured or coerced into helping people, simply because they ask and I happen to be able to solve their problem.
If I see somebody having a technical problem, I may actually turn around and help them without him even having to ask. However, I find it incredibly rude for people to presume to ask for technical assistance, free of charge, without bothering to consider that I actually do technical support for a living, and they're actually asking for the equivalent of a free tuneup from a mechanic. If you wouldn't walk into an auto repair shop and ask for a free tuneup, why would you do essentially the same thing with a computer consultant?
Please be considerate. If you're having troubles, and I see that you're having troubles, then I will more likely offer help on my own and you won't even have to ask. However, if I happen to be overtaxed as it is, begging, or coercing me into helping you is not really doing me any favors and simply drains my energy when I have to deal with the guilt of possibly rejecting a request for help but I otherwise might volunteer on my own. I have helped multiple people here, and I have no problem with that; I've been more than happy to help in each of these cases, I do, however, draw the line at people requesting my phone number so that they can call me and ask further questions off of this site. That's not what this site is for, and if they really need help that badly, perhaps they should actually find a tech support forum that is a valid venue for the request.
Please don't abuse my goodwill, and make me feel obligated to do things and feel like I'm "on the clock" when I log in here to do other things than provide free tech support.
Thank you.
