I just got an email from a guy who wants me to help him understand wordpress (the blogging platform which GMG uses). So I called him back.
This guy wants to start a blog and the premise of the blog has merit but when I asked him what he was stuck on as far as setting up the blog it was honestly some of the most rudimentary of things such as inserting a photo and adding pages.
As many of you know I like to help people but when I asked him if he had even attempted to use the help sections in the support pages of wordpress his response was that the explanations were too “wordy” and that by sitting down one on one with someone it would be easier. OK, I can understand all this up to this point and was still willing to help out with some of the basics over the phone. I gave him a bunch of my shortcuts and tips.
But then he said something that really turned me off to the whole idea of helping him.
His words- “I’d be willing to sit down with you some time this week so you can teach me one on one how to do all this”
Really now? I guess I should be honored that he would allow me to donate my time and expertise gleaned after thousands of hours figuring all this out on my own.
He would be willing to sit down with me. I wonder if I should pay him for his time while I teach him all the ins and outs of blogging. I guess if I have any time away from the dock he feels it would be best spent directly being his one-on-one tutor.
Don’t get me wrong I like to help people but I’m not all about being the doormat who every time someone needs a free photo for a news story or for publicity for some commercial venture that I should be the thankful one for being the one to provide it. How bout a fucking please or sounding a little bit thankful instead of assuming that I have nothing better to do.
All it would have taken was one single please or hint of being thankful. I like to help but don’t take me for a doormat.
end of rant
Good Morning Gloucester 
People sometimes, you wonder, maybe down on the docks he can help you lift the lobsters off the boats and without boots, gloves, hats …. you are the best…
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classic!
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maybe hes gonna mow your lawn all next summer or something …..ya think ?
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AttaBoy Joey!
This might not be the best time to ask a favor being so close to the holidays but was just wondering if you could PLEASE do a short Shop Gloucester piece at Fishermans Outfitter for all the sport fishermen and fisherwomen.
Buon Natale
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One can only be a doormat if one allows them self to be and one can still say no. 🙂 I totally understand where he was coming from on the part of hands on. WordPress was and still is at times confusing to me. (I love computers and all the wonderful things you can do with them). Thanks to Sharon for giving me some pointers over the phone, that helped greatly. This blog thing is a whole new world to me and I love it.
Thank you Joey, for having me.
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I hear you, Joe. I get those calls too. As Curly says, “The noive!”
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Joe: You need a day rate for people like that. No reason to give it away!
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Peter, you need to understand, it wasn’t about money or even time. All it would have taken was an ounce of sounding sincerely appreciative. That’s all.
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Joey: I understand. But the guy was asking a lot for a freebie, even if he had asked nicely. I appreciate everything you do. Your time is very valuable to all of us. Peter
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This guy is a perfect stranger? Just emailed you out of the blue? Um, Joey, how do I say this? You are being hit upon.
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Yes, a perfect stranger.
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He’s either hitting on you or selling something (probably some advertising scheme). I know you didn’t ask for it, but since your posts sometimes involve personal information about you and your family, my advice is to stay as far away from this person as you can, and for and don’t give him any information about you. Like I said before, all kinds of crazy and all kinds of sick out there in the ether. And, sadly, lots of lonely people, too.
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No I don’t think this is the case Nancy. That wasn’t the tenor of the conversation at all. This guy wanted to start a blog about his cause and wanted me to explain how everything worked without trying to figure it out for himself.
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Sounds like a scam to me. Like all those spam comments that you must get. “I really like your blog, but the RSS feed isn’t working. Just thought I’d let you know.” Or “You raise some interesting points here. I’ll be certain to read more.” (That one posted on the About Us page!)
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No this guy contacted me and had a Gloucester telephone number. He was for real
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Joey, take it as a compliment that you have an amazing blog and you are a blog expert! Sounds like he was just being lazy and didn’t feel like reading the tutorials.
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We have an amazing blog Alicia. It’s just as much our contributors and GMG community that write in and get interactive. It’s not just MY Blog. I created it but it takes all of us to make it as great as it is.
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Well, sorry for the bother then. Professional hazard, I guess. And yes, you’re blog is great.
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No bother. I appreciate your comments and value your web design advice. 🙂
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Sounds (frightenly) like an (almost) client I had many years ago – who wanted to watch me design a logo for him (give him ideas) but not pay! Yikes! I think I told him I was not a teacher and did not run a school!
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I get people like that, Helen. They ask if they can sit down with me and I can show them how I design web sites and graphics. It just amazes me that they even have the nerve to ask. I’m certainly willing to coach for a good cause but some people are just shameless. Web and book design is how I earn my living, why do they think I should give that away?
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I don’t know why people can’t muster up an ounce of humane courtesy and gratitude. It really burns me up. I stopped volunteering help with design-related things (unless I really want to) after a friend who I was designing a 90-page book for FOR FREE (big job) started criticizing me for taking too long and making me FEEL BAD. Nope! Need help moving a load of dirt – sure thing. Need help on a compy – no way! I think people think it’s easy if it’s on a computer, but wouldn’t imagine using your time for moving dirt (or lobsters) in such an ungrateful way.
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This web site is such an amazing resource created by some very creative and giving people that have such an appreciation for Gloucester. Thanks for all the time you spend on it! We hope to come check out the Lobster trap christmas tree tonight with the fam. Sorry to hear, there are always a few crabs out there. Speaking of crab, I had some great crabcakes yesterday! You guys rock! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
– Rich
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I’d be willing to come and eat some lobsters with you next week. Please set it up. But not after 6pm or before 5 pm.
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What a guy!
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Joey, I’m very disappointed in you. How dare you not drop everything, make the boats wait an hour or so and help out a fellow blogger who doesn’t want to put any work in it. It really doesn’t take much to play with wordpress.
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2 words. 7 letters.
And a big boatload of eye-rolling.
GMG rules!
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Good for you, Joey!
I too, do not suffer fools well and am thrilled that you not only stood your ground, but you felt comfortable to vent it and not let it burn inside. I only know you through GMG and the wonderful comments your friends/family and other GMG followers say of you – generous you are – stupid, you are not. People need to understand that kindness is not equivalent to weakness and most people will be far more generous on their own rather than having it tricked or selfishly extracted from them. God Bless and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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This is almost comical Joey!! I know firsthand how charitable you have
been through GMG. You donate countless hours, along with your crew, promoting
all things Gloucester and it doesn’t go unnoticed!! But beware the fool who tries to take advantage of your good nature. BRAVO!!
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Joey,don’t give your secrets away. It is yours .Sounds like a lazy person,who only knows one way to do anything,someone elses way. Merry Christmas. Linda
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Hey Joey! I’d be willing to allow you to teach me how to tie my shoes. 🙂 Keep up the good work. Many computer-illiterate people depend on you.
(I’ll try to keep this rant short.) In all honesty, the person should contact WordPress and explain to them that their documentation is ‘too wordy.’ WordPress will use this feedback and try to improve either their documentation or web interface.
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