"Canned" Responses

[SlidingHorn]

I do not claim to be an expert on just about anything. However, I do visit here somewhat regularly now, and I spend a lot of time on the Ubuntu support forums in an attempt to share whatever knowledge and/or solutions I can offer to people having the same problems I've run into.

Here's my beef

Many times on support forums like this, folks tend to open a thread and just spit out a "canned" response that sometimes has *absolutely nothing* to do with the information given.

For example: I understand that when working with Linux servers/platforms, permissions issues are going to make up a relatively large portion of the problems you'll run into. However, when someone posts that they are having a problem, and the only information they give is that they are given a javascript parsing error, some folks (*clears throat very loudly*) just automatically throw out that it's a permissions issue. Where the **** are you getting this???

If I'm wrong, then PLEASE set me straight. I don't mind looking like an idiot from time to time.

[susiewilliams]

Hi there,

I think the reason most initial responses are along the lines of "check your permissions" is because that is, in fact, the cause of the issue much of the time. If nothing else, checking permissions is the first step you should do to troubleshoot issues with installations and instances that aren't "acting right".

[salesagility]

As someone who contributes the "check your permissions" response regularly, your non-constructive post could be aimed at me ... but I'm not taking it personally.

Susie is correct.....there are canned responses because there are a number of recurring issues which if addressed can get to the heart of a problem quickly or once eliminated can expose the deeper issues. Think of it as a first level help desk response.

Hang around the forums a bit, contribute a bit more than 20 posts ... put something back ...get involved ... don't stand on the sidelines complaining that the game doesn't suit you.