Re: Asking a question: a controdiction?

["Raj Machhan" <raj -dot- machhan -at- gmail -dot- com>]

It is certainly jarring to have anyone disturb you while you are deep into
something like 'n-tier modular architecture of a complex software that
deploys multiple ODBCs with disparate database types.................'.
An open office is now almost a norm in the IT domain. One easy way for you
to make out whether a person is free to answer your question is to simply
walk upto the individual's workstation and see for yourself. If the person
is busy, you can send an e-mail.
Another way could be to use the intra office instant messaging system.
Simply send across a message and wait for the response.
Except for circumstances like the one cited above, I personally feel it
makes sense to extend instant help to your colleagues. Or else you can have
a paper pinned to the more noticeable side of your cubicle that puts across
the Do Not Disturb message politely or better still with humour. Maybe
Techwirlers can suggest some humorous messages.



On Nov 21, 2007 8:51 PM, Mitchell Maltenfort <mmalten -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

> and on the other hand, we have people who barge in without even
> pausing to observe whether someone is hunched over a computer frowning
> and/or typing like mad.
>
> So we have two problems relevant to people on this list:
>
> (1) how do we advertise "do not disturb" without making co-workers
> sore?  That can be murder in a shared office.
>
> (2) what's the best tactic for inquiring whether someone can answer a
> question right at the moment?
>
> I usually avoid question #2 by using email, which people can respond
> to in their own time.
>
> On Nov 21, 2007 1:32 AM, Aaron Ciner <acnore878 -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > When people ask strangers for help or advice,
> >
> > they usually say "can I bother you?" or "can I ask
> >  you a question?"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > This is a blatant contradiction; by asking the question,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > they are implying
> > that they have no right to simply disturb
> >
> > the stranger without permission and, yet, they disturb the
> >  stranger without permission. (what are they thinking??)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I think people who have questions for stranger,
> >
> > they should say either, "can I ask another
> >
> >
> >
> > question," or "can
> > I further bother you."
> >
> >
> >
> > I know this is a tech. writing and not tech. communication.
> >
> > But it's close enough.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -Aaron Ciner-
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> "I don't know yet" is a better answer.
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