RE: 'manual' order entry

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[quote="bluephoenix"]I think all that has been hapening is an effect of rapid growth - Not polite requests - but irate demands.
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I think bluephoenix has made some good points. Although I've watched this project for quite a while, I've only gotten involved fairly recently. When someone asks a question and it's obvious they've tried unsuccessfully on their own to research it, I am only too happy to offer assistance if I can. Even when I don't know the answer, I can often point them in the direction they need to look to solve the problem themselves. When, on the other hand, you get someone who's been confronted with a problem and posts a request for an answer and then I do a search and find 5, 10 or sometimes 20 posts come up with their key words, I'm not quite as anxious to offer quick assistance. For one, you're really doing them a disservice because if they don't get a quick reply, maybe they will do the searching they should have done in the first place and will learn both something about osCommerce and something about basic problem solving. If they just get a quick reply, you've essentially condition
 ed them to resort to the same tactics when their next issue arrises. If you do want to offer help, do so in a professional manner and include some advice on how better to handle the problem in the future. Or, better yet, give them some pointers on just how they might search for answers themselves. Unless the poster is just plain rude from the start, I don't see any justification in a rude or curt reply from anyone when a visitor asks a question. And one of the most important points I think bluephoenix made is to be willing to give back, however you can, if you utilize these forums to get your own assistance and help. That way we all share a common strength rather than having everyone taking and giving nothing in return.
Wow. This is way more than I meant to write. I never posted this much when I just "hunt and pecked" at typing. ;-)

Anyway, thanks everyone. I've been very fortunate to have some generous folks help me when I've needed it and I hope that I can continue to return that help, in kind, to others when they find themselves in similar situations.

Cheers,
Stretchr