Asking Good Questions

Someone just posted this to Twitter saying,


This should be mandatory reading for anyone asking technical/programming related questions, online or off


I heavily agree! Please read this link for everyone's sanity :)

http://www.mikeash.com/getting_answers.html
5 Likes

So true!!

Now we have to have that go viral. :smiley:

Didn’t read it… but I just wanted to fit in and do what everyone else will do. :wink:



Seriously, though, it really is always better to ask well formed questions. So I applaud stuff like that.



It avoids the “How long is this piece of string I’m holding?” style posts.

Haha, nice. What let me more annoyed is when people say :

-Give me source code

Instead of asking something -.- .

1 Like

Lets make that a mandatory read before posts in the forum are allowed ^^

Alright, added it to the forums sidebar :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like
@normen said:
Alright, added it to the forums sidebar :P



That's a great spot for it.. I was thinking of making it a sticky, but making it a sticky over the entire forum seemed a bit over the top

i love this one:


QGuy: when I create an NSString from UTF-8 data it fails, why?
AMan: post your code
QGuy: I don't think it's a code problem
AMan: screw this


related to jme3:

Dilembo: why multi-touch don't work on android?
normen: post your code
Dilembo: I don't think it's a code problem, its a bug with jme
normen: more likely it's you who is the problem
4 Likes

Oh, I could add a couple too!



SomeGuy: Excuse my Engrish, it’s not my first language.



We know. Don’t apologize. The fact that you’re trying is already a great thing. Only through patience and practice will you learn, but PLEASE stop saying that.



SomeGuy: “I’m sorry to disturb”, or “I don’t want to annoy…” or “Could someone help me with…”



People… You’re on a HELP forum. Simply post the problem you’re having, we’re here to help you so no need to ask or apologize for it. I’m sure many of us could add more. :wink:

I used to love on the Neverwinter Nights scripting forum when the topic was titled either “Scripting Question.”, “Question?”, or “Problem”. me: “Yeah, I really want to drill in on that one…” But I always wanted to respond “A scripting question??? On the scripting forum!!! Are you crazy?!?”

1 Like
@madjack said:
SomeGuy: Excuse my Engrish, it's not my first language.

We know. Don't apologize. The fact that you're trying is already a great thing. Only through patience and practice will you learn, but PLEASE stop saying that.


I don't mind when they mention that english is not their first language if it's brief. Sometimes it is a good explanation because there are a few native-english posters who have enough trouble with their own language and thought organization that it's concerning. Sometimes it's nice to know.
1 Like
@pspeed said:
Sometimes it's nice to know.

@pspeed said:
I don't mind when they mention that english is not their first language if it's brief. Sometimes it is a good explanation because there are a few native-english posters who have enough trouble with their own language and thought organization that it's concerning. Sometimes it's nice to know.

You can always tell.

Plain and simple explanation of a problem is often times a lot tougher than writing some phrases, native speaker or not.