Semi-OT: fP Room, focus, and "saving money"

[John Esak]

> > | Give me a call at the office and we'll fix you up.
> >
> > Don't do that!  Visit the filePro room at www.tinyurl.com/yuag7, where
> > Jim Asman is present more often than not, and thus avoid fattening the
> > bank account of your telephone company. :-)
>
> I have a problem with this, in all honesty.

[...]

I do too, sort of... For a couple months now, we all have been enjoying the
room and I it has been a great place for people to come with questions about
filePro (and other things like Unix/Linux, etc.)  Nobody would be there who
didn't want to be there and give freely of their time and knowledge.  Being
there and enjoying the place is the reward and payback and we all do it as
time allows each in our own way. The more people who come to the room, the
better, the more we all benefit. It's just great and I think will get just
greater and greater as time goes on.

> In short, there is a distinction between what one may be willing
> to do as a
> public service, and what one may consider business, or if not business, at
> least private.
>
> Since Jim asked him to call, it may be business, it may be
> private.  That's

I couldn't agree more. I don't want the FP Room to become a drain on
anyone's time or business.  I want it to "help" anyone's filePro-related
efforts, business or personal. Saving anyone, and everyone the cost of Ma
Bell's service is just one really fantastic aspect of the room and more
power to any of us who can use it that way. (Especially those in far-flung
places like Australia, Brazil, Alaska, the Netherlands, Canada... and so
many of the other places log in from... Yay! We are getting over a little.)

As for Jim's request someone give him a call at the office... I suspect he
simply forgot he could tell them to come to the FP Room.  You never know...
it was odd of JP to use this particular message to voice his obvious
approval and endorsement for the place. I think it is great that he,
himself, is there quite often and such a valuable resource to it. I know
that like anyone, he gets as much as he gives by being there. It's just the
way it is in such a medium.
>
> Since the fP Room is something I consider an extension of this
> list/community, I should think the same general rules apply.

Agreed, and so far it has been that way. I'm sure we can all keep it that
way.

> Have Nancy and I discussed -business- in the chat room?  Certainly...but
> simply because we were both already there at the same time and it was
> convenient to simply utter a few sentences there rather than ring
> each other up separately just for that, when it didn't need to remain
> confidential.  But we -don't- make appointments to go to the room to
> broadcast our business to the world just to save money.

Ditto, I do lots of "business" through the Room. Anyone can hear Jim and I
hashing out bar code or printing problems all through the long days. It is
often business-related and just because we are using the room to talk so
easily and pass things back and forth doesn't mean I still don't compensate
Jim whenever necessary for any work I ask him to do... these kinds of things
are and should be arrangements kept between the parties involved.  The FP
Room only facilitates this aspect of our relationship as well as our long
standing friendship.

> Of course, it's John's room, and whatever he feels or does is the final
> word on the matter.  I'm simply saying that I think this "recommendation"
> was in poor taste at best.  Actually, it struck me as quite crass.

Well, the comment sparked me to write to JP privately as well. It bothered
me for some of the same reasons you mention. But his reply to me privately
was interesting. He doubted that someone asking for a call publicly was
probably not seeking revenue. (and never have I known Jim to do this... in
fact, he is notorious for giving away his hard-earned knowledge for free
without ever asking for anything... as we all do here and elsewhere often
and generously.  Jim does do this kind of support/consulting as part of his
revenue stream though and he can determine when and how to implement his own
arrangements with anyone who needs the best PCL support in the world... :-)
He is at the FP Room almost all day long like many of us... but still I hope
this adds to his actual workload as opposed to detract from it. Giving away
the immediate answer to a question either here or in the room is not going
to change his real consulting work and even may garner him some projects he
might not otherwise have.  I hope it is the same for anyone using either or
both venues. We all know what Jim's (or for that matter Nancy's, yours, JP's
or anyone's consulting work is worth off line in daily business...) and are
all willing to pay those fees whenever they are applicable. Happily, here
and in the FP Room such things are not important and anyone can rub elbows
with the brainy and clever among us at no charge!  May it ever be this way.

Yes, as you mention, the FP Room is supported by me, but I consider it a
filePro resource just like this list. (Don't worry, I can afford this... it
is SO worth it to me, just for the pure fun and enjoyment I get out of
having the room there 24/7 with people to go and talk with about filePro or
anything.) If I could _give_ it to FP Tech, I would. However, FP Tech (and
every other incarnation of "filePro", has been loath to take on any venue
like this list or the room... and aside from not dedicating "real"
human-based support for these places, I think this is as it should be.
Groups like this are much more effective if they remain at arm's length from
the company/product to which they pertain. It allows for more diversity and
overall benefit than if they were "running things".  As I said, I wish they
would actually "assign" someone to read this list as a part of their
specified tasks... and for that matter, I thin now that the FP Room is
taking off so well, I think they should assign someone to frequent that
place as well... It would be SO valuable for them to do these things. It has
_always_ amazed me that they never have chosen to do this. Thank goodness
Ken reads this list (and comes to the room) as part of his personal
preference. It would be a very sad thing if it were otherwise.  FP Tech
should grok this fact once and for all... but who knows, they may continue
to bend a deaf ear to such requests. (And once again, none of us out here
will understand.)

Meanwhile, things move on and the room gets more active day by day. I urge
anyone and everyone to visit for whatever reason, not least of which is
saving some of your valuable time and money. It is so much easier not to
beat your head against the wall with a filePro problem or question when
there are so many willing and able to help... see you there.

John Esak
The FP Room is http://www.tinyurl.com