Re: NO, MICROSOFT DOES NOT SEND OUT SECURITY PATCHES, IT IS A VIRUS!

From: Daniel Billingsley (dbillingsley_at_NO.durcon.SPAAMM.com)
Date: 05/23/03 

Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 13:28:35 -0400

I did not compare new users to spammers. I compared the argument that we
can just delete spam to the argument with regard to newsgroups that we can
just "don't reply to the ones you feel grumpy about". I compared the effect
of these newsgroup posts to the effects of spam, a very different thing from
comparing the people doing it of course. Whether the intention is malicious
or benign, the flood of those posts here lessens the value of the newsgroup,
just like spam does for email. So, unfortunately, I am all too right.

Anyway, I fail to see how you think a user can find his way to a newsgroup
(which even from the web interface doesn't exactly jump out at a new user
staring at his screen scratching his head) and post a new message, but
doesn't have the wherewithal to even scroll down the list to see if any
similar questions have been asked. That's why I proposed the frequent
posting of a FAQ of sorts, so a new user could see it in the list without
having to be able to do any kind of search.

"xp slave" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e5GB95TIDHA.2152@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Unfortunately you are wrong. There is no comparison between a new user
and
> malicious spammers. A lot of these new users are barely able to post to
the
> newsgroups via the web interface much less figure out how to search one.
It
> may be simple to you but it's not to them. What if someone sat you down
in
> the pilot's seat on a 757 and said "OK, fly me to LA". If you had never
> flown an airplane you wouldn't have a clue.
>
>
> "Daniel Billingsley" <dbillingsley@NO.durcon.SPAAMM.com> wrote in message
> news:e$V50IGIDHA.4048@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > I don't really mean to be be attacking the poor people who truly need
> help.
> > However, in a newsgroup the flood of posts asking questions that could
> have
> > been easily answered with a few minutes of responsibility and searching
> take
> > away from the overall value of the newsgroup to those needing more
> advanced
> > help. For illustration - if there were 1,000 posts here a day by people
> > asking if Microsoft sent them a virus, we'd all just unsubscribe and
then
> > this would become a useless resource for those truly needing more
advanced
> > help.
> >
> > It's much like a spammer suggesting that "It's no big deal - can't you
> just
> > hit the delete button?"
> >
> > I don't mean to argue here, and I've certainly been known to answer
those
> > questions myself sometimes, but I hope you can see the other side of
this
> > too.
> >
> > One of the things may be helpful is for someone to take on the task of
> > compiling a FAQ of these types of questions and then posting it here
about
> > 3-4 times a day with the subject "FAQ - read this before posting your
> > question" or something like that.
> >
> > "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> > <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com> wrote in
> message
> > news:OUN%23ZTAIDHA.2220@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > It's everyone's first time, some time. Cut people some slack. You
aren't
> > > getting paid by the post to answer NG questions, I presume, so the
> simple
> > > answer is: don't reply to the ones you feel grumpy about.
> > >
> > > Jason wrote:
> > > > * Charles Otstot <saries@nc.rr.com>:
> > > >>
> > > >> "Torrey" <TRitter@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > >> news:eeFW005HDHA.672@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Because they are f'ing lazy asses who don't want to RTFM or learn
> > > >> anything.
> > > >>> They deserve every virus they get plus 1.
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >> BZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!! WRONG ANSWER!!!!!!
> > > >>
> > > >> Use a little thought and have a little compassion Torrey...
> > > >>
> > > >> The vast majority of those who post these questions are not
newsgroup
> > > >> habitues. They are more often ordinary, everyday people who use a
> > > >> computer to perform ordinary, everyday tasks. If they are technical
> > > >> at all, it's on a very rudimentary level. Those who want to learn
> > > >> more will do so, but without making the mistakes that *all*
> > > >> inexperienced people (I've hated the word "newbie" for nearly 20
> > > >> years) make.
> > > >
> > > > Then they should learn to do a search. It's not that hard, I use a
> > > > text newsreader and I see about 50 from the start asking the same
> > > > question. And when I go to the MS website and access this group I
see
> > > > at least a dozen all asking the same question. All without my ever
> > > > reading a post just the subject lines.
> > > >
> > > >> These folks are simply looking for a
> > > >> helping hand from those they consider more knowledgeable and who
can
> > > >> either allay their fears or assist them in preventing those fears
> > > >> from resulting in (perceived) disaster. They deserve to be treated
> > > >> with respect and kindness, not ridicule and insults. It doesn't
take
> > > >> but a minute to answer the question, why waste that time with
> > > >> vitriol? It hasn't helped anybody and makes it that much more
likely
> > > >> that the questioner will shy away from learning more and will
really
> > > >> encounter problems down the road.
> > > >>
> > > >> Religion aside, you really are your brother's keeper. If we're not
> > > >> willing to help others, we become less than nothing ourselves.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > Im no ones keeper but my own. I and probibly many others have no
> > > > problem helping out if someone has a problem but also we expect a
> > > > little leg work to be done by the person who has the problem.
> > > > Little things like doing a search to see if this is a common
> > > > problem etc.. They get short answers and insults because
> > > > after the 50th time you see the same question asked by someone
> > > > too lazy to do any work you get a little grumpy.
> > > >
> > > > Jason
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>