Sorry, folks.
Sean does not respond to requests for personal help or answer individual questions. I am not a free help desk.
"But, Sean, I really don't know where else to turn for help! Can't you just answer this one little question?"Sorry, no. There are hundreds of people who want me to give them free help, but since I can't possibly help all of you, I'm setting a firm policy: no personal help. I already gave you a whole bunch of free help by writing the phone wiring page. Please don't ask for more and make me sorry I helped you.
DO NOT WRITE TO SEAN ASKING FOR HELP!
Dozens of people have been ignoring this very reasonable request and asking for personal help anyway. If this keeps up, I may take the whole page down in exasperation and frustration.
Don't ask me about topics not covered on the page (DSL, pre-modern wiring, etc.) Don't ask me where you can find a web page on those topics. You can use the standard search tools as easily as I can.
I have no plans to expand the phone wiring page further. Don't write asking me to add more topics.
You don't get a special exception for being a single mother of three kids, for being a fellow Penn alumnus, for having a son who is in the Marines, etc. (All actual things people have written.)
If you are really stuck
- Step 1: Go back and reread the phone wiring page carefully, and THINK FOR YOURSELF! Many of the requests for help have been questions which are answered on the page. Experiment and tinker, and trace thru everything carefully.
- Step 2: If all else fails, call the phone company and pay them to figure out the problem for you. Don't ask me for help.
Sometimes I get somewhat bruised-sound emails along these lines:
Sean, if you don't want requests for help, why don't you just remove the "If you have a question or need help" link instead of having this mean and nasty page?I've experimented with a number of different strategies over several years, and I've found by experience that if I simply say nothing about offering help, then people will assume I don't mind and will track down my email address. I've also tried friendlier, less nasty wording, but once again, I've found by experience that this doesn't scare off the requests for help; they continue to roll in. Unfortunately, my experience has been that the mean-and-nasty approach is the only one that works in this case. There seems to be a depressing truth about human nature here.
Back to the phone wiring page