Help from a Stranger
Written by admin on Tuesday, 24 of April , 2007 at 8:46 pm
One that amazes me about being online is the amount of complete strangers who are prepared to help you. How often have you been tearing your hair out trying to get your design programme to do something - you know it should be able to do? After a couple of hours and a wealth of obscenities coming out of your mouth, you decide to go to a forum for help. You post your question, about an hour later your mail program happily chirps to announce your solution has arrived - fantastic. Someone you have never met before has spent their time giving you a full and comprehensive list of how to solve your problem.
Maybe you are stuck for ideas for your latest project or need a critique, places such as www.graphicdesignforum.com where again, people you have never met before, are happy to help. In return of course, I will always try and answer any questions that I can (kind of reminds me of that Pass it Forward film).
Monday I was having major problems trying to sort out a new plugin (Show Top commentators) in my blog, I just could not get it to show the persons name and number of comments on one line (being a CSS dummy). I posted the question on www.sitepoint.com/forums/ a site which is great for getting help with technical or webdesign problems (some good books there too).
A while later I checked back and a few people were trying to help me. One of them gave me his MSN (Kevin at www.bloggingtips.com) and told me he would talk me through it. He made a few suggestions, then offered take a look at my template on his test site. I zipped up the files emailed them to him and he figured out the problem, told me what it was, and sorted it out for me.
Bloggingtips.com is a site well worth checking out, whether you are new blogger or an experienced blogger looking to find out new things. There is also a new forum on blogging tips, I am sure if any of you are stuck and post a question on there, Kevin or another blogger will be able to help.
Category: General Graphic Design
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Comment by Deborah
Made Tuesday, 24 of April , 2007 at 9:51 pm
I saw your post on David Airy’s site that you’ve joined the Do Follow movement, and I see that you’re using it.
I recently wrote a post on the DO Follow movement in attempt to encourage others to follow suit.
I’ve added your blog to the list of Bloggers using DO Follow with link to your home page here:
http://www.fastlanetransport.ca/blog/i-will-follow-do-follow/blogs-websites
The post for this is also on my blogroll so it doesn’t get buried in the archives.
Cheers!
Comment by Kevin
Made Wednesday, 25 of April , 2007 at 2:59 am
great post tara (though im biased because you mentioned me!;) )
from my own point of view, i always try and help people out if i have time. So many people have helped me over the years so its good to give a little back (cheesy but true).
And as i said, you think your ok with something until you try and explain it or help someone else with it - i find it helps me improve my own skills in that respect. im not a css expert and trying to figure out what was wrong with your theme helped me understand css a bit more.
i think bloggers should try and help out each other when they can. sure we’re all fighting for traffic and readers - but you and your blog will do a lot better by being positive instead of negative.
Pingback by Blogging Tips » Blog Archive » Link Roundup - April 25th 2007
Made Wednesday, 25 of April , 2007 at 3:51 am
[…] Help from a Stranger - I helped Tara from Graphic Design Blog with some css problems she was having on her sidebar. She then posted about the help she has had through discussion forums. An absolutely amazing post - but im completely biased because she recommended Blogging Tips haha […]
Comment by ses5909
Made Wednesday, 25 of April , 2007 at 6:07 am
You’re so right Tara. I frequently am surprised myself and once you experience that generosity, you want to give it back and help others. I went to sitepoint over 4 years ago and am still there every day 
What’s your username there?
Comment by admin
Made Wednesday, 25 of April , 2007 at 7:42 am
Hi Deborah, Thanks for commenting and for the link, I will have a read up a bit about it on your site and join in. It’s weird because I had just posted a question about Technorati in Kevin’s forum as I wasn’t quite sure how it worked. I notice you are in Edmonton, I have relatives in Grande Cache - in the Rocky Mountains, not to far from you in Canadian miles, its a small world!
Kevin, thanks for you comments and again for your help, you will be sick of my questions in your forum soon!
ses5909 Welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting. Like you say Sitepoint is a great place for help, I hope one day to be able to answer more questions than I ask! My user name is TR123 (original eh!). I have just checked out your site, I think I may be able to learn some CSS there.
Comment by Armen
Made Monday, 30 of April , 2007 at 2:13 am
I found this site through David Airey, and it appears you had the same problem I have. Could you give me the solution to getting the Top Commentators plugin to work? I am using a Brian Gardner theme too, and as much as I love the theme, I just can’t get this plugin to work.
Comment by Tara1
Made Monday, 30 of April , 2007 at 7:40 am
Hi Armen
I have just emailed you the code for Show Top Commentators which is in my sidebar, and the Show top commentators plugin, I hope this helps.
If not I suggest you post a question in Kevin’s forum at Blogging tips Forum I’m sure he will be able to help you.
Comment by Armen : : iffect.net
Made Thursday, 3 of May , 2007 at 3:27 pm
Just for the record Tara, thank you so much for your help.
Comment by Tara1
Made Thursday, 3 of May , 2007 at 3:30 pm
No problem