
RANT
To start off with, this rant isn't directed to any single person in particular, so if you have emailed me about a problem lately, don't jump the gun and assume I'm referring to you. But I really need to get something off my chest because it's been annoying the hell out of me.
Look, I know I have a lot of tutorials and stuff on my site about Keenspace and being mod for the Help Center, it probably seems natural to PM or email me a question for help. and there's nothing wrong with that. Most of the time I don't mind helping.
What I do resent is people taking advantage and using me as their quick-stop answer for all-questions because they are too lazy to read through the tutorials and FAQs properly. Those things exist for a reason, so use them!
What do I mean, let me illustrate my point: I logged on to the Keenspace Forums again. My private messages inbox is overflowing... AGAIN. Goddammit. Half of the stuff in there are tech questions that have already been answered in the FAQ and Tutorials, the rest are so badly phrased I have no idea what they are talking about. What I can't understand is that if these people have KS forum accounts, WHY AREN'T THEY POSTING IN THE HELP FORUM WHERE THESE QUESTIONS BELONG LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?!
Check my email... Woohoo. Some more "Help Me!" emails. While most of them are legit stuff, they're always a few who are sent by people who are just being lazy. GNGNGNGN! Must. Not. Snap.
Let me get this straight. I am not an Admin, I have no power to change your signups or usernames and frankly I would flatly refuse to take on that role if occasion ever cropped up. I am not employed by Keenspace as tech support, people. Just because I am sometimes patient and willing to help doesn't mean I am here to build your entire bloody website for you via email so for the love of god stop treating me like I am!
Honestly, I don't mind if you ask me for help. Hell, some of my friends I met while helping them with their sites. What I do mind is if you use me for throwaway tech support, then once you get what you want, disappear without so much as a 'Thanks! It worked!"
(NOTE: A lot of people HAVE sent me very nice glowing emails with thanks. I am very grateful for them.You guys are the reason why I am continue to help out. Thank you. You people rock!)
(ANOTHER NOTE: There are also those who send me fanmail and sometimes tack a question or two at the end. That's fine too :) Those I don't mind because the feedback makes up for it. Especially if it's constructive feedback ;) Or if you tell me something that makes my day like one of my characters is sexy or fascinating information about how people really hold a gun and things like that. Emails like that I treasure forever. ;) )
But please, always try posting at the Keenspace Help Forums FIRST, yes? Only email/IM me as a last resort (i.e. if you have problems and can't register for the forum or if it's something you are positive is not covered by the tutorials and FAQ). If you don't understand something in the guides, post in the Help Forums, there are people who are better than me who can explain it for you. If you have an urgent problem, sure, instant message me if I am on but make sure it's nothing silly.
And please, Do NOT Private Message me unless it's sensitive stuff and there's no other way to contact me(password related, hell I don't know). There is simply no space in that inbox. It was small to begin with and have to practically clear some space every day so I don't miss an important non-tech PM from my friends. *sigh*
I think the next time someone email me something like "hey I looked through your faq and I don't know how to set up my site gaah why is keenspace so stupid?" I'm going to pull a Kisai and start malleting.
READ THE BLOODY DAMN FAQ!!!... PROPERLY!!!
END RANT
ps: When posting in the help forum, always include your KS username. It helps. A lot. Trust me.
ps again: Yes, this rant was written in a state of high stress. How could you tell?