28.08.2011, 07:37
How to Ask For and Reply to Help
Introduction
Countless amounts of users here ask and respond to help threads in the Scripting Discussion board. That is perfectly fine, don't get me wrong. However, you should follow some guidelines when doing so, which I will discuss in this thread.
If you have anything you would like to add to this tutorial, or concerns regarding it, please reply.
How to Ask For Help
Like anything else, if you have a question or problem regarding scripting, you should create a thread and ask for guidance. With that said, you should consider a few things:
Do I need to create a thread?
There have been thousands of questions asked before, literally. Most likely there is someone else who has already asked the same question that you have. Before creating a thread, you should search (using this forum's search engine or ******) for an answer to your question. It is very annoying for people who respond to see the same thread multiple times, sometimes in the same day!
Have I tried to fix the problem myself?
If you have warnings, errors or a bug in your script, try to fix it first before posting. If the problem consists of errors or warnings, take the time to search around the forums for similar or the same errors and warnings and see how that thread's original poster fixed it. This may require reading through a few threads, and all the replies, but it will be worth it. That way, in the future, you will know immediately how to fix the problem too.
Also take into note that some errors and warnings can be caused by different types of code. Just because one thread who solved the error or warning with the same error as you, with different code, it doesn't mean a thread out there already exists with the type you have.
Will this work?
Some post asking if someone will work and wait hours for a reply. Why? Most of the time they could have run the script themselves and check if it worked in the matter of minutes. Take the time to test it for yourself, it will be much quicker, leave more space for those who really need help with their script, and will leave you feeling better at the end; being able to check something for yourself.
Be polite and follow the rules
Unfortunately, most people seem to be blind on these forums, simply stubborn and don't follow the rules, or don't even take the time to read them. This is very annoying for those who try to help you with your problem, so take that into account. Always follow the rules, no matter how ridiculous they may be. You can see a link with specific rules for the Scripting Discussion section below.
Another unfortunate thing is most people who need help are immature, rude, and don't even have the courtliness to say "Thank You". If someone took the time to read your thread, find a solution and reply, AT LEAST tell them your grateful. They don't need to help you, and if they decided not to, you'd be stuck in the situation to fix the problem yourself (which for most people who ask for help, that would never happen).
Do NOT Bump!
I understand this is a rule and should be under the previous section, however, it deserves one for itself.
Bumping is a huge problem. Many people are extremely impatient and think it will kill them if they don't have a reply within a few minutes of posting. The fact is, this is a game, and I doubt anyone will have you taken hostage with a gun to your head to fix their SA:MP script. Do you freak out when you do not get a reply to your thread, it happens. Be patient and wait for someone to come by that knows the answer to your problem.
Some of the reasons bumping is so widely frowned upon is that it's annoying and unfair. Annoying that someone doesn't have the patience to wait and that you end up seeing the same thread at the top of the board every five minutes. Unfair in the aspect that others, who follow the rules and don't bump, will have even less chance of their thread being seen. How is that fair? Someone who actually follows the rules gets punished?
How to Reply to Help
Trust me, it's nice and a good thing to try and help others with their problems. But know that as annoying they can be with how they ask for help, you can be for replying!
Know what you're talking about
If you have no idea, what so ever, about the problem in the thread or a possible solution, don't reply! All you're doing is filling up a thread with potentially useless information and making it harder for others who search to find answers to a similar question they may have.
Test your code
If you give code out to those who ask for help, make sure that it is valid and working.
Take your time and explain your code
Nothing is more annoying, for me personally, than seeing someone rushing their reply to be the first ones, and not explaining their code. If you can write it, you should be able to explain it - simple as that. By explaining what your code does you help the original poster understand how some things work, which they may have overlooked in the first place.
Don't reply to those who break the rules
This is more of a personal choice of mine, but hopefully others will do the same.
I see many reply to a thread and go "hey, don't but" and later in that reply they answer the question the person had. Why? They should suffer some type of consequence for their action. Something I would do is reply telling them which rule they broke, why not to do it, and tell them I'll edit my post in a few hours telling them the answer, or leading them guidance, to their question.
Don't spoon-feed!
If it's obvious that someone is not actually trying to fix something for themselves, then don't help them! You need to be able to help yourself before anything. If you give out code to someone, then they'll just be back the next day with another question for you to answer and never learn how to do something for themselves. They'll believe that you, or someone else, will always be there ready to give them answers without putting in any effort.
Useful Links Conclusion
Despite none of this being required, I do suggest you at least follow some of the information in this thread. It was created to have the Scripting Discussion board run more smoothly, because as of now, it's a complete mess.
Please, if you have any criticism, suggestions, questions or points for this tutorial, reply. I would like to improve this tutorial as much as possible! This really includes the presentation of this tutorial, as it does look pretty pale.
Good job
