Do a Google search for simple questions before posting? - This should be a General Lab Technique (Jul/28/2006 )
Posts written in incorrect English are better than posts written in language other than English.
As a 6x veteran, I have read posts written in Chinese without English translation 
. My Chinese is not good enough to translate the posts into English, so that other members can read 
.
Incorrect English does not bother me, as long as I can understand it. 
Sorry my English is not perfect, as I only have a major in biochemistry and not English .
Posts in a language other than English would be tough. I don't think we can be really tough on posts which aren't in perfect English, it's one of the good points of this forum, that it's international....
There are so many questions on this forum that could simply be answered by using any search engine. Not only do you get you answer immediately but you will have more information, figures and possibly references directly at your disposal.
Far too many people see this forum as there first port-of-call without even considering using the internet to search for it.
Coming back to the main suggestion, there is another problem I faced with many of my questions. Generally, I filter my questions and don't ask what is googleable or I find in my books (Sambrook and some others), but the remaining questions nobody answers. I guess the questions are to special, so nobody can easily answer (supposed that you do not ignore me at all
). And this might be a general problem for people who follow Doc_Martins suggestion, or am I to pessimistic?hobglobin
No, I think you're exactly right. It's is just a little unfortunate. Just looking at the new unanswered posts link there are well over 200 hundred with no reply.
It's inevitable that there will be occassions when no one on the forum has the correct expertise. If your question requires a specific and precise answer then there are always going to be fewer replies. However, those are the sorts of questions that I think should be asked on the forum. Someone may just know.
If you get no reply then repost or better still contact (or get your supervisor to contact) a PI who is an expert (or at least his postdoc). Just look for the contact details on the papers that contain the method, technology or information you are using.
It is said, "Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day"; but teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
Ref: tanmonkey.com
http://www.protocol-online.org/forums/inde...ic=9083&hl=
This is exactly what I mean. It's not that I'm fed up or resent these people or would even refuse to answer them. It really is an extremely useful skill [being able to search for specific information in the billions of webpages].
This isnt exactly a conflict karyotyper but only a difference in opinion and perception. And in fairness to Doc Martin some of the contentious issues I raised (use of proper English etc.) were a bit overblown. I was hoping hed deliver an eloquent comeback or at least wiggle his way out imaginatively. But all he did was give a blow by blow account of all my grammatical mistakes and questionable punctuation marks and the classic I will not dignify . What a cop-out!
Some of us who are new to this field are sometimes completely overwhelmed and instead of real guidance and supervision (in the lab), all we get is go to the internet, read Maniatis and my personal favorite didnt you study chemistry during your undergrad etc. I think that most of us can take criticism if we know that it wasnt meant to be intentionally hurtful or belittling and if its not a display of superiority by the one giving it. You wont ask another question if youre made to feel like a slacker or worse a fool. Im probably being overly sensitive but if someone else has been in a similar situation he would understand.
We could achieve excellence in whatever we do but how do we fare as humans if we dont have empathy and compassion? Trite and yet so true.
Casey (still hurting from the 8/10 score)
Casey (still hurting from the 8/10 score)
I think you failed to grasp the tongue-in-cheek manner of my reply. It was a joke not a personal rebuke. I suppose that's British humour for you!
Oh; and 8/10 is well into the first class bracket at Cambridge, so I wouldn't be too ashamed.
Hi Casandra, I actually think you're very talented!
I particularly liked your retort to the Doc on Aug 2 (especially the line about his students forming a support group!!!). I showed it to a colleague and we both cracked up laughing for a full minute. Beautiful response!
However, I also thought the good Doc's correction of your grammar etc. after your initial emotive post was sheer genius! He let himself down with his own spelling mistake a couple of posts later (gramar instead of grammar) but when pointed out to him he came back with another winner..."well spoted, er, I mean spotted". Brilliant!
IMHO I think the Doc is being a little harsh - not everyone lives at his end of the IQ spectrum and he can be a little intimidating. Nonetheless Casandra, I reckon an 8/10 from the Doc must be very high praise indeed!!!
My "conflict" post was only meant to highlight that things were getting a little heated. It was also tongue in check and I meant no harm. My apologies if you took offence.
As a 6x veteran, I have read posts written in Chinese without English translation
. My Chinese is not good enough to translate the posts into English, so that other members can read . Incorrect English does not bother me, as long as I can understand it.
Sorry my English is not perfect, as I only have a major in biochemistry and not English
.usually the worst posts are even not written by foreigners, but by english speaking persons, using y u and r instead of why you and are, pls, ptt and so on.
each time I have to read it twice. Is it so difficult to write it correctly?
I don't care if someone is writing gramar instead of grammar, but please avoid the SMS language!