Should students post? (RE: Findlay students)

[Nancy Hayes <nancyh -at- PMAFIRE -dot- INEL -dot- GOV>]

My .02 on the matter.  I've taught basic tech writing skills in college
and as "training" given at my company.  I really don't mind answering
questions from students (I've even been known to answer do-my-homework
posts kindly)--but I think there's a different issue here than whether or
not we should be a student-resource.  If we feel like answering, we
will--and like so many people have already said, students have as much
right to post as anyone.

My problem w/ the Findlay posts:

1.  The "babe" question was highly offensive.  My initial reaction was
"Take it to alt.flame, ----!"  This student single-handedly
undermined the credibility of the rest of the Findlay brigade.

2.  The "dolphin" question didn't provide enough detail.  What kind of
research was the person looking for--people who had written about dolphin
studies, people who'd been out on the sea with them, what?  There simply
wasn't enough information given to us for us to provide a helpful
answer.  That's like posting to the alt.vampyre group and asking them if
anyone has done any research on blood--too generic a request.

3.  I can't remember the other posts specifically--maybe I was hacked off
enough about the "babe" post that I ignored all the others, but I really
don't remember seeing any posts that I thought I could answer.

Just a word of advice to students (and anyone else who cares).  PLEASE be
as specific as possible if you're asking us a question.  We really don't
crucify newcomers (unless they're starting up the degree-vs-experience
holy war again <g>).  And remember what sounds "cute" face-to-face might
not be cute to a group of people who don't know you and are getting their
first impression of you through what you write.

Nancy Hayes (nancyh -at- pmafire -dot- inel -dot- gov)