Re: Getting an Answer Is One Thing, Learning Is Another

Niall, you're too modest. I admit I didn't research the list of names (thanks to Daniel for helping amend some notable omissions, to which I must add Anurag), just jotted down the first few that floated up from the murky depths. However, this very fact tells me that you are an active group participant, you supply answers as well as questions, and your postings are intelligent, concise and helpful. You don't have to be an expert to be a valued contributor. Please accept my apologies for including your name without permission.

BTW your reference to 1970's musical Heroes couldn't possibly apply to David Bowie, whose illustrious and prolific musical career spans from the 1960's to the present day. ;)

Martin

Niall Litchfield wrote:

> "Martin Doherty" <martin.doherty_at_oracle.com> wrote in message
> news:3D4F100C.552C5F0C_at_oracle.com...
> > In response to your eWeek article of July 29:
> > http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,427037,00.asp
> >
> > I am filled with admiration for the cadre of Oracle experts who are
> > regular contributors to the comp.databases.oracle.* newsgroups (Daniel
> > Morgan, Richard Foote, Howard J. Rogers, Sybrand Bakker, Peter Sharman,
> > Niall Litchfield, Norman Dunbar and others). Daily, these selfless
> > individuals freely donate their time and the benefits of their knowledge
> > and experiences, without pecuniary reward and with only the occasional
> > word of praise.
> >
>
> Though I appreciate the thought , I don't especially like beng singled out,
> and especially not as an expert. As far as reward goes I know I've got far
> more out of these group than I ever put in (and that's not counting the
> 1970's musical heros who keep cropping up).
>
> > Most of the questions appearing on the newsgroup are of the type
> > described in your article, and they are usually answered (cheerfully,
> > sarcastically or brutally) with either the specific information
> > requested or an admonition to consult the Oracle documentation, but
> > often with the important rider added: "Tell us what it is that you are
> > trying to accomplish, and we can advise you on the best techniques to
> > use, and why". Not only that, but they are always striving to expand the
> > fundamental knowledge of all questioners, to better equip them to solve
> > their own problems in future, and to eliminate the damaging assumptions
> > and myths which so often dominate our choices in a landscape of
> > unmanageable complexity.
>
> I'd like to hope