Any special policies I need to be aware of?

[petef]

Free Computer Help Admin & Moderators,

I need to know upfront if there are any objections to posting topics that point out

problems with Microsoft products and sometimes offer alternate FREE or non-Ms

pay products as a solution....as long as it's done in a professional manner.

 

Reason I ask, is that I have a tendency to post topics that point out problems

with Microsoft products and the previous Forum I used to frequent has an

administrator with a philosophy that we need to promote new technology

and I believe he viewed some of my posts as going against his philosophy.

As a result, I felt like I was under attack with rude comments aimed in my

direction and the whole thing got a bit ugly. I do not wish to repeat the

same here, so I'm asking in advance.

 

I'd like to say, I always strive to be professional by sticking to the facts

of a topic and by NOT making personal attacks or judgments on other members.

I believe that some members here already know me and can vouch for me.

 

I already posted one such topic today that deals with WORD 2007

problems with corrupted files so that you may see an example of

the type of post I'm referring to.

 

I did read the rules for Free Computer Help and they are all very reasonable.

 

PS: Please, lets not mention the name of the previous forum I'm

referring to or any of the parties involved. I do not wish to begin

a flame war. Thank you.

 

---pete---

[maynardvdm]

Hi Pete

 

As far as i'm conserned, if its legal an within the rules then i don't have a problem with any posts ;)

 

Lets hear what the others have to say about this :p

[AdvancedSetup]

Hi Pete,

 

I can't speak for the others but from my point of view I don't have an issue with it as long as like you say it's based more on Technical merit and not Holy War mentality over a product. I think we're all here to help a user with their current issue and not to push applications or products on a user that didn't ask for that type of help. If the product is borderline Malware and you know of a better product then sure that would be great to offer an alternative. But if the user is having problems running MS Paint (as an example) telling them to get GIMP or switch to Linux is counter productive to my way of thinking.

 

Again I don't think there will be an issue. I've only had an issue with one person here so far, and I sent him a PM, that telling the user to switch to Linux in every other post was NOT what we're here to do and to please stop posting if he could not or would not actually help the user with the issue they asked for help with.

 

.

[RandyL]

Hi pete;

Normally we don't promote paid products unless asked about a certain issue or if someone requests the information.

 

Pointing out issues with products or offering free programs is fine. We do draw the line at dangerous programs or ones that are mainly used for illegal purposes. And of course password hacking programs. You get the drift.

 

So post away pete.

[petef]

  AdvancedSetup said:

If the product is borderline Malware and you know of a better product then sure that would be great to offer an alternative. But if the user is having problems running MS Paint (as an example) telling them to get GIMP or switch to Linux is counter productive to my way of thinking.

 

I totally agree. :)

One of my pet peeves with some forums is when a member comes in asking

a specific question on an older product that might be a bit outdated and

most of what he gets in return are other members suggestions to switch to

another product of their personal preference and nobody ever addresses his

original problem. My philosophy is to always address the original issue first by

offering a solution or at least explaining why a solution would be difficult,

and then offer an alternative to the first solution if you have a totally

different approach or product to recommend.

 

---pete---

[petef]

  RandyL said:

Hi pete;

Normally we don't promote paid products unless asked about a certain issue or if someone requests the information.

 

Pointing out issues with products or offering free programs is fine. We do draw the line at dangerous programs or ones that are mainly used for illegal purposes. And of course password hacking programs. You get the drift.

 

So post away pete.

 

Ok, thank you.

That sounds perfectly reasonable.

 

My favortie kinds of posts come about when I discover something new and I want

to share my findings with other members. TECH TIPs & TRICKS, product reviews,

solutions to weird SW & HW problems I encounterand with my customers, and

stuff like that.

 

---pete---

[Guest Wolfeymole]

We all know the forum of which you speak about Pete and allow me to reassure you that Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help will never resemble that place in any shape or form.

 

We are all agreed on the problems and issues they have, that's why I left.

I would go as far as to suggest that we are the exact opposite of that site in fact

 

As far as I'm concerned you can pull down, promote or just generally discuss any thing you care to as long as there are sustainable facts behind the arguments.

 

Post away as Randy said Pete.

[petef]

  Wolfeymole said:

 

Post away as Randy said Pete.

 

Thank you, Sir.

I gotta tell ya, it feels good to have made a post

(WORD 2007 is corrupting files) and not have to

worry about being challenged. :)

 

---pete---

[Seth]

  petef said:

I totally agree. :)

One of my pet peeves with some forums is when a member comes in asking

a specific question on an older product that might be a bit outdated and

most of what he gets in return are other members suggestions to switch to

another product of their personal preference and nobody ever addresses his

original problem. My philosophy is to always address the original issue first by

offering a solution or at least explaining why a solution would be difficult,

and then offer an alternative to the first solution if you have a totally

different approach or product to recommend.

 

---pete---

 

Agreed.

[JEBWrench]

Just that some of us might not agree with you. (For example, while I like OO.o, I prefer Office.) Though to each his own. :)

[help4me]

  petef said:

..... being challenged. :)

 

---pete---

 

I'll challenge you Pete.... I challenge you to someday have a soda, beer, whatever with JEB and I! I might even go so far as to dare you to have dinner with us someday down the road.... how's that for a challenge? ;)