Working Pro Bono (for free)

[Achas Veachas]

I'm much more likely to want to help a friend than someone I know who I never talk to except when they need a favor

Well no one asked them to open their threads, if they enjoy helping and sharing their knowledge good for them and good for us

[etech0]

Well no one asked them to open their threads, if they enjoy helping and sharing their knowledge good for them and good for us

Good point.
Methinks you replied to the wrong post, though

[Achas Veachas]

Good point.
Methinks you replied to the wrong post, though

I thought you were implying that it's not nice to ask for advice from people who aren't actually your friends...

[etech0]

I thought you were implying that it's not nice to ask for advice from people who aren't actually your friends...

Yes, but I was talking about straight out asking - not posting on a forum for whoever wants to answer

In other words: I agree with you 100%

[Something Fishy]

Well no one asked them to open their threads, if they enjoy helping and sharing their knowledge good for them and good for us

Exactly. I chose to open these threads. I've gotten help on many subjects and from many people here on DDF and I'm more than happy to help out others in my area of expertise. More importantly, I could chose when and what to answer; if I'm busy or not in the mood I could easily ignore it as long as I like.

But when a friend who I haven't spoken to in 10 years suddenly remembers my number and needs a camera NOW, or if someone wants me to take "just a few pictures" for their website (for free, of course), I'm definitely not inclined to help.

I think anyone in <insert field of choice> could relate to the feeling of being used sometimes.

[etech0]

Exactly. I chose to open these threads. I've gotten help on many subjects and from many people here on DDF and I'm more than happy to help out others in my area of expertise. More importantly, I could chose when and what to answer; if I'm busy or not in the mood I could easily ignore it as long as I like.

But when a friend who I haven't spoken to in 10 years suddenly remembers my number and needs a camera NOW, or if someone wants me to take "just a few pictures" for their website (for free, of course), I'm definitely not inclined to help.

I think anyone in <insert field of choice> could relate to the feeling of being used sometimes.

Well said

[Yehuda25]

Doctor's, Accountants, Lawyers etc. all get asked all the time for free advice in shul. It's up to the individual how he deals with it.

Maybe drawing a line between advice and manual labor makes sense.

+1 Excellent point. I have no problem giving advice all day, (and I do  ) Its when people expect more for free is when it becomes a potential problem.

[Yehuda25]

Exactly. I chose to open these threads. I've gotten help on many subjects and from many people here on DDF and I'm more than happy to help out others in my area of expertise. More importantly, I could chose when and what to answer; if I'm busy or not in the mood I could easily ignore it as long as I like.

But when a friend who I haven't spoken to in 10 years suddenly remembers my number and needs a camera NOW, or if someone wants me to take "just a few pictures" for their website (for free, of course), I'm definitely not inclined to help.

I think anyone in <insert field of choice> could relate to the feeling of being used sometimes.

+1 Well said

[TimT]

Exactly. I chose to open these threads. I've gotten help on many subjects and from many people here on DDF and I'm more than happy to help out others in my area of expertise. More importantly, I could chose when and what to answer; if I'm busy or not in the mood I could easily ignore it as long as I like.

But when a friend who I haven't spoken to in 10 years suddenly remembers my number and needs a camera NOW, or if someone wants me to take "just a few pictures" for their website (for free, of course), I'm definitely not inclined to help.

I think anyone in <insert field of choice> could relate to the feeling of being used sometimes.

How about people going over to school administrators or principals in shul to talk school or money issues ?

[Dan]

Exactly. I chose to open these threads. I've gotten help on many subjects and from many people here on DDF and I'm more than happy to help out others in my area of expertise. More importantly, I could chose when and what to answer; if I'm busy or not in the mood I could easily ignore it as long as I like.

But when a friend who I haven't spoken to in 10 years suddenly remembers my number and needs a camera NOW, or if someone wants me to take "just a few pictures" for their website (for free, of course), I'm definitely not inclined to help.

I think anyone in <insert field of choice> could relate to the feeling of being used sometimes.

Very true.
Happy to help in the right forum, but I'd really rather not discuss the best way to use miles to get to XYZ in middle of shacharis.

[etech0]

+1 Excellent point. I have no problem giving advice all day, (and I do  ) Its when people expect more for free is when it becomes a potential problem.

An issue is that there is often a very thin line between advice and manual labor.
Eg: "my computer is acting weird - how can I fix it?"
answer: "well, I'm going to have to take a look at the issue to answer that question..."

[TimT]

Very true.
Happy to help in the right forum, but I'd really rather not discuss the best way to use miles to get to XYZ in middle of shacharis.

100%. Do the masses follow you out of shul every day ?

[etech0]

100%. Do the masses follow you out of shul every day ?

oy!

[TimT]

+1 Excellent point. I have no problem giving advice all day, (and I do  ) Its when people expect more for free is when it becomes a potential problem.

I think if advising is part of your job you shouldn't do it for free. If someone wants to ask a Dr. what medicine to take for a headache, fine. People call the dr's offices all day for that & they don't charge for it.

[Baruch]

Most people asking a Dr. advice  in shul, are doing so on Shabbos. Frum doctors understand that part of being a Frum doc is that on Shabbos you work for free. 

[TimT]

Most people asking a Dr. advice  in shul, are doing so on Shabbos. Frum doctors understand that part of being a Frum doc is that on Shabbos you work for free.

My point was that they do it for free all week long too over the phone.

[Baruch]

My point was that they do it for free all week long too over the phone.

I wasn't responding to your point.

[etech0]

It's so tiring to have an argument when we all agree with each other!

[Achas Veachas]

Surprised no one posted the joke with the lawyer yet...

[etech0]

Surprised no one posted the joke with the lawyer yet...

Cause we all know it already, so there is no point