let's answer the question thats asked

[doddsy]

http://www.techimo.com/forum/t165301.html

have a wee look at this thread

guy comes to timo asks for help. what does he get?

half-baked, half-assed, anti norton nonsense from people who should know better.

thats typical of the response on these boards lately from anyone asking for help with av..it turns into an anti norton rant.

in this case the thread starter got peeved by the hi-jacking too.

there's some clever bods here, helpful too, so maybe we could stick to answering the question thats been asked.

rant over...

[Martoch]

Half-baked, half-assed eh?


So if someone is trying to install a rogue antivirus/antispyware program (meaning a fake one that will cause more harm by installing it) and they're having trouble, should I ignore the fact that it's potentially dangerous and help them install it? Absolutely not.
Why should I help him install something that I know can cause more harm than good? That, in my opinion, would be an injustice.

FYI, if I ever ask for help installing a program that you guys know is no good, by all means please try to prevent me from doing so and recommend something better.

[moo]

Hmmmm..........I may be missing it, but I don't see you on that thread trying to help him at all. At least everyone else was trying to keep him from doing what (in their opinions) was something that would do more harm than good.

..............................end rant.

[GH0STce11]

his question wasn't wether or not symantec was a good av, he wanted help installing it.

if you can't help him with that, you shouldn't have posted.

it's all right, and it's good that you want to warn him about norton, but do that after you have actually solved his problem.

[nunyadam]

http://www.techimo.com/forum/t165301.html





in this case the thread starter got peeved by the hi-jacking too.

actually he never replied. another member named Konaan did.
I see no problem with pointing them towards another program, but it would be nice to try to help them use norton if they are that foolish to use it after being warned.
just my 2 cents

[Martoch]

his question wasn't wether or not symantec was a good av, he wanted help installing it.

if you can't help him with that, you shouldn't have posted.

Again I say...

So if someone is trying to install a rogue antivirus/antispyware program (meaning a fake one that will cause more harm by installing it) and they're having trouble, should I ignore the fact that it's potentially dangerous and help them install it? Absolutely not.
Why should I help him install something that I know can cause more harm than good? That, in my opinion, would be an injustice.

So you're saying I should help people install potentially harmful programs, then offer alternatives? I refuse to willingly help someone make their system worse.

Too much sugar in your tea this morning, doddsy?

[doddsy]

Half-baked, half-assed eh?

yes.

Hmmmm..........I may be missing it, but I don't see you on that thread trying to help him at all

i have a life outside of techimo...hard to believe i know......but hey. so i made this thread right after i read the thread. if i'd seen it before martoch i'd havve tried to help rather than wade in with the "run avast not norton crap".

best advice would be to watch where you surf maybe and then they're be little or no need for av........ just my 2c.

[EXreaction]

actually he never replied. another member named Konaan did.
I see no problem with pointing them towards another program, but it would be nice to try to help them use norton if they are that foolish to use it after being warned.
just my 2 cents

I agree, warn first, help after...

Let me just ask you complainers this...if someone was trying to install something that was a known virus, would any of you tell him how to install it and keep your mouths shut about it being an actual virus? I think not...

[Martoch]

Watch where you surf seems like good advice, but it's really pretty worthless. That's like telling somebody that is not mechanically inclined to watch what spark plugs they use in their engine. How do people know where it's "safe" to surf? They don't and that's why they rely on their AV programs. If I wanted to put oil in my car that's known to cause engine problems and I posted a thread asking where it goes, I would hope that some of you would do your best to prevent me from doing so and tell me what oil I should be using instead.

What's life like outside of TechIMO?

[Atomic Rooster]

Yea, doddsy, it seems any one using any Symantec product must be assimilated into the "Anti Norton Club". I've used Symantec products for years without any problems at all. All the guy wanted was some help installing the program, he didn't want to hear how some of our members hate Norton.

[cmptrgydv]

Well that’s not by far the only thread where people get out of hand,
I seen some times somebody comes asking for help and half the people that answer,
End up fighting each other, I have had people IM me after starting a thread asking me to help them, just because they don’t want everybody doing nothing but telling each other what’s right and what’s wrong,


sorry I don't have 2 cents

[Martoch]

Here's my example...

I post this thread in the community.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help me install this oil

Me: Hey guys, I bought this oil called Stinky Pete's and I'm not sure how much to add to my engine...it's a 4-cylinder Corolla. How much should I add?

Thanks!
~Mike

RedFury: You should add 4 quarts.
RobRich: Yeah, 4 quarts should be fine.
TRB: Is it 10W-30 or 40?
etc, etc...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks later, I post another thread:
Please help! My car keep stalling!!! =(

Me: Hey guys, I don't know what's wrong, but my car keeps stalling and is running like crap! The only changes I've made recently is when I changed my oil and put 4 quarts of Stinky Pete's 10W-30. Other than that, nothing has been done. What gives?


RedFury: OMG, why would you put Stinky Pete's oil in your car? It's known to cause engine problems. Oh man it's hard to remove...even after you drain it, it still leaves traces behind. You need special cleaners to completely remove it from your engine.
RobRich: Oh man, you need to take your car to a repair shop....there's no way you can fix that on your own with little experience. That Stinky Pete's oil is baaaad stuff!
Me: WHAT?!? Why didn't you guys tell me that oil could cause problems when I asked how many quarts I should put in my engine??? I told you it was Stinky Pete's! GRRR!!!!

RedFury: You didn't ask us if it was good or not, you only asked how many quarts you should use. [shrug]
RobRich: Yeah, be more specific next time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hopefully that helps explain my point of view.

[Atomic Rooster]

Bad example Martoch. Stinky Pete's is a perfectly fine motor oil.

Besides, motor oil is motor oil as long as it's API Certified.

[Martoch]

Why you little!!!


Perhaps next time someone asks how to install Norton properly, I'll say I don't know how to get Norton to install properly, but I do know that there are better alternatives to Norton.
Would that be a better solution?

[runs off to edit Norton thread]

[Atomic Rooster]

Very good Martoch! But I would suggest "I do know of alternatives that I think are better than Norton". You're learning young grasshopper.

[JPMiller]

While I totally agree with Doddsy in pricipal, and have my own rants along the same lines... I personally feel this is a poor example of this type of issue...
There are MANY more threads that have TRUE examples of this type of thing...
The fact that there are whole threads dedicated to the Norton issue, that SO many have had huge issues with it, and that there are so many good alternatives, warrants Martochs and others responses... IMO

[Atomic Rooster]

I don't think the use of a certain software product that works perfectly for a great many people "warrants" being derided for his using it. IMO.

[excuzzzeme]

Bad example Martoch. Stinky Pete's is a perfectly fine motor oil.

Besides, motor oil is motor oil as long as it's API Certified.

That's like saying any AV is as good as the next as long as it's an AV !

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

(Your point is made and well taken but your statement is incorrect)

[Prexaspes]

My favorites of this type are when someone says, "Hey, I need a good new AGP video card and don't know much about computers and I don't have a million dollars. Any suggestions?"

And the answer is something like, "Your computer is an old piece of crap. You need to buy a new motherboard with Core 2 Duo and SLI support. You'll end up needing new ram for that. Your old CPU cooler isn't going to be compatible. And that 350 watt power supply is definitely not going to work. You need a kilowatt power supply. If you don't get all that, your getting ripped off."

Where's the challenge in that?

For the record, I used to use Norton Antivirus for years and it isn't the worst antivirus out there, I pay for my AVG antivirus, I have a Socket A computer with a rare AthlonXP 3300+ processor and an expensive 7800GS OC Superclock video card, my RAID card company went out of business and it still works great, and I play all my games with AA enabled. To top it all off, my RAID array is made up of Maxtor hard drives and the whole thing doesn't give me a bit of trouble, even if I go to some disreputable sites.

[A#1]

Bad example Martoch. Stinky Pete's is a perfectly fine motor oil.

yeah....Stinky Pete's is all our family uses