hey guys
not really a question or anything here, just going to vent some steam

most of my time i spend helping people one way or another, and i rarely ask for anything in return (ie money). I feel that knowledge should be free.

All i ask for is the recognition that I have helped them ...and a kind thank you. nothing more, nothing less.

And it seems even this is too much for some people.
It just angers me so much that you do things for people and they take it for granted. Or even have the cheek to tell people THEY did it.

Sometimes i just think ...why should i bother next time they want help.
I know you guys on here arent like this (otherwise you wouldnt be on a help forum)

i guess this kind of applies to the open source world as well....with people creating code, and some evil ones stealing it and changing it slightly then claiming rights to it and selling it.

any of you have opinions on the matter?

I'm just happy with a "that fixed it" message.

I'm happy being an anonymous somebody out there and really don't care if I get any kind of recognition. I do the forum thing just because it's what I like to do. Helps burn some time when I'm required to occupy my seat and I could either find a solution to someone elses problem and maybe learn something myself or I could stare at the ceiling and count tiles above my cube.

It isn't the single solution that defines who you are but your participation over time. Someone may give someone else your solution and say that they came up with it but sooner or later people will know that you are the person to go to when you can provide solutions on a regular basis.

I wonder how many of us are "paid" to sit around and give answers here. Like Blinker_fluid, I do a lot of my answering while I am at work. I quite literally get paid for one hour of work. The rest of the night I am paid to just be there. I work night audit at a hotel and when the hotel is full and the phone isn't ringing (it never rings) I can do whatever I want. I had been told by my previous manager that I could grab a pillow and nap on the couch as long as I got up to answer the phone and was up to unlock the door for the breakfast host.

Instead, I use my time hopping around here trying to help people. Sometimes it is a little harder that way (windows boxen at work ... although I bring a FreeBSD livecd)... but I'm pretty adept at recalling things I have done and browsing through online documentation.

But I don't do it for the thanks. In the over a year and 600 messages of help I have posted here, I have only recently got my first comment on affero. That shocked me... I forgot I had that. I do get thanked every once in a while but that is not why I do it. I got called a guru -- which made my day... I'll admit that... it does feel good when people see that you know your stuff. But I would continue to do it if I had no feedback at all. Beyond the simple, "okay I got it to work" messages. I help people because I want them to enjoy using their computers as much as I enjoy using mine.

As for having people use my code... I release it all under the BEER-WARE or BSD license. Which pretty much allows them to compile it into a commercial product, or whatever they want, and use it as their own work. My name remains in the source but they aren't obligated to give me credit. I get more joy out of knowing it is useful to them then I would if they trumpeted my name from the rooftops.

u will always come across ignorant people who have no manners and those also who are quick to criticise rather than to commend sadly that`s a sign of the times..or maybe life`s always been that way and it`s only as u get that little bit older that u notice it more. If u enjoy helping others in whichever way suits u ...then keep up the good work :-)
The thing that annoys me (on the forum) is somebody posting a question, someone taking the time out to answer and the original thread starter seemingly disappears off the face of the earth..I mean why ask a question if u r not going to stick around for the answer ?!?

When I help someone, and I have helped a few, it's because I have had problems with the same thing or know someone who has had the problem. If it's something I don't know about and I google for it, it's because I want to know about the solution. It's perspective.

/me throws Kane2002 a biscuit for his hard work!

I always try to think of it in terms of being altruistic - indirect reciprocity ("pay it forward"). If you help other people, someday someone else will help you in return. I think that's what has built the open-source and open-media world. You may not always get recognition or thanks, but it's very satisfying (to me, anyway) that I've helped someone who will someday go on to help another person, who may be able to help me someday. One way of saying "thanks" to someone is to pass the generosity along to someone else, or back to them in return.

I'd agree.. I'm a SysAdmin these days, we don't get recognized for squat in our company, but they always know who to come to when they need technical help..

Guess you just get use to it.. but I'm the type that expects nothing in return, from anyone.. its called life!