A writer asked a question
on a forum.
Many other writers,
some of them big names,
took time out of their busy days
to give this writer
their answers.
We all had books
to write and to promote,
but we spent
some of our
valuable yet limited time
to help this other writer.
A few days later,
the writer posted
a group thank you
for the individual answers
and said she had already decided
what she was going to do.
I will never help
this writer again.
She wasted my time,
other people’s time.
That is disrespectful.
(Another minor issue
is
many of us gave detailed answers
and she gave one group thank you.
I suspected she didn’t even read
the answers she was given.)
If you already know your decision,
state that up front.
Imply that you want reassurance,
not information.
You’ll likely receive that
from people
who have spare time.
Busy people
will ignore it
and they will likely help you
when you DO have a legitimate question.