Techexams.net
Written by The Geekette on July 17, 2006 – 1:48 amPosted in Certifications, Cheat Sheets, Ramblings |
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Loading ...Many study-exam places host forums to help the members who have questions. Advice about passing exams, study guides, and helpful information along with encouragement is a great way to help others.
I used to think the world of the people at TechExams.net. From what I have seen since I have been a member since 2003 was a forum devoted to helping others learn, answering questions and encouraging others for certifications.
I thought I would add my 2 cents for helping others as well. That IS what it is supposed to be all about.
Well evidentally it was not on that site. I posted 3 different links in their forums after some other posts congratulating other members on passing certifications.The links were to my study notes here on the site
I call them my cheat sheets. I made them when I was studying for various exams. They are pages of jotted down notes for quick reminders and reference cards. So many people have found them useful, I thought I would pass them on.
What I got was a message from the CWNA moderator asking me if I posted them so I could drive traffic to my website to get hits and money from ads.
WHAT???
I have never even made any money off of this site. If I have - it has never been sent to me that I know of. My bank records and paypal can prove that 
I had only published the notes on my site because I have used them, they were helpful in studying and my pursuit to learn, and others love them as well.
I replied that was NOT my intention and my only intention was what I posted - to help others studying. I said that if there was a problem with me posting something to help others learn, please let me know. There was even another person that replied after me that thanked me for posting the links.
I don’t need more “traffic” to my site. This site gets enough traffic as it is. I do like it when people come here and find the answer to a question or they can read something and learn. That is what this site was all about. And, I enjoy helping others when I get an email asking how to do something. If someone comes here in hopes of learning, or to find an answer, that is what this site is about - it was built on where I had a place to put my notes for reference while studying and learning. That is all it has ever been.
After I made the response (and I was very polite), I was rewarded with having all of my posts removed. I posted in another forum very politely asking why my posts had been removed when all I was trying to do was give others a chance for more study material to help them learn.
In return, I was rewarded yet again with a message saying I was BANNED from the forums.
WOW. Ok… that makes NO Sense at all! I thought the forum is for people to help others to learn? I mean members raved about books, other materials for studying and all I did was post a link to the study notes - and I get accused to trying to drive traffic to my site to make money AND then I get banned.
Sounds Fishy to me. Could it be a jealousy thing? Maybe they wanted everyone for themselves and could not handle it that someone else was trying to help? way to go! how rude!
There was a message about writing the moderator blah blah blah.. It sure isn’t worth wasting my time over to do that. If that is how that place is going to be, I think I can think of better things to do and better places to write where you are not treated like that for trying to help someone. That is definitely NOT a place I would recommend nor will I be returning to. I prefer to exchange messages with people who can act civil
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Tags: cheat sheet, CWNA, Exams, Linux, notes, PWO-100, Study Guide, Tech, Techexams.net, XK0-002
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July 20th, 2006 at 10:08 am
Though I haven’t seen your posts, the likely reason is that posting links to your own website (especially multiple posts) is considered spam.
Granted, one might think you were the victim, but there are two sides to every story. And making a public thread was definitely not wise.
I’ve posted many links (and posted many posts) there and have never run into any trouble; likely because I understand general forum policies.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:57 am
_omni_
By making a public thread, do you mean this one? If so, I see no reason why not.
I had been a member of TechExams since 2003 and never had any problems before. I was trying to help, and I exaplined what I was posting. I made 3 posts in different categories with links trying to give anyone a chance to have more information for studying.
After being accused of posting only to make traffic to here, and I politely retorted that was not the case.. and then Asking why all 3 of my posts had been removed - and not getting any reply, only banned - I think that was very unfair.
Not only that, but if you want to talk about spam, I keep getting it from techexams since I get a reply to posts from there and I am not allowed to log back on to discontinue to replys.
‘If you no longer wish to watch this topic you can either click the “Stop watching this topic link” found at the bottom of the topic above, or by clicking the following link:’
and considering I cannot click on the link to remove myself, I keep getting unwanted emails. I would call that spam.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
I meant “I posted in another forum very politely asking why my posts had been removed” - though you didn’t actually say whether you made a thread or not; I just assumed it. Either way I’m sure the mods would have preferred that you pm them directly.
Though perhaps it was a bit drastic.
At another IT forum I’m at, the same rules apply: you can’t make multiple posts/threads with links to your/whatever site. You might not get banned, but they will be deleted.
Same thing at another forum I help mod.
If you want I can ask Webmaster to see if he can do something about your emails…
July 20th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Omni - from the agreement when you sign up for an account:
“You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-orientated or any other material that may violate any applicable laws, including brain dumps (actual exam questions) or links to them. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned. The IP address of all posts is recorded to aid in enforcing these conditions. You agree that the webmaster, administrator and moderators of this forum have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should they see fit.
“Posting, requesting or promoting the use of braindumps or braindump-in-pdf-selling-cheatsheets-like companies will result in a permanent ban.”
I did none of those.
While, it IS *their* forum and they can do *whatever* they want to… then obiovusly they are not in it for helping others, only themselves.
Out of the 10 years and hundreds of forums I have moderated.. no one I have ever known just banned someone for no cause and never bothered saying WHY - especially if that person was contributing and trying to do something to help.
Did anyone bother looking at the study notes I made? When someone accused me of only posting to drive traffic to my site for money from ads.. dude that isv *so* funny its unreal. Its so not true. And I even politely replied when that was posted to me that was not my reason and that my reason was to help.
The study sheets are ones that I made while studying for the certs. Thye are notes taken from countless number of books, man pages etc. They are nothing from the forbidden mentioned above. And, the same links ARE posted in other forums.. and actually are appreciated. Hence why I did not thinks someone would go off the deep end here.
I am not some little script kiddie looking for answers for the tests. I am probablly 2x that age at least. I have my values and ethics. I work in this industry and have for years. While I did appreciate the study material from that site, I do not appreciate the childliness. My 12 year old has more maturity than the ones that treated me like that.
To get on a whim and treat people like I was treated.. well, it speaks for itself. If that is how they want to be, then more power to them. I personally have better things to do than treat people like dirt and then claim to be all so great to everyone else. I will leave that to the ones that treated me like they did
August 3rd, 2006 at 6:04 pm
That’s where I found your posts… a set of links in another forum. Sounds like jealousy to me…
August 19th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
The Network+ technotes is the only guide you need to pass the exam. Perfect.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:36 am
Picture this…
… the moderator comes back from lunch, seated at his desk, a 3/4lb burger clutched in his stubby left hand, dripping juices down his already stained shirt.
One fat driblet escapes being absorbed by dropping into the yellowed pocket protector. It realizes it’s doomed anyway when it sees the petrified pickle huddled in the corner. The pickle lays with some dignity, like an Egyptian mummy pickle of old.
The moderator is oblivious to the drama in his shirt pocket, as he is oblivious to most things in this mortal realm. For he is realy the MIGHTY MORPHTAR (a level 13 elf in evercrack). His day to day job only allows money he needs for his “real” life. Money for things like the once yearly video card update, the bi-annual computer upgrade, and fastfood. (He has escaped the dreaded “rent” or “morgage” trap by living with his mother).
His glossy eyes finaly drift toward his screen. He scans down the list of recent posts, opening the threads one by one. As he opens your thread he exclaims, “BY THE GRACE OF MORPHTAR, A DREADED LINK!!!” As he scans the title of your link eyes drooping eyes fall on the words “cheat sheet.”
His bloodshot retinas turn into pinpoints, his sphinter tightens (leaving a small hickie on his leather chair). The “fight or flight” rush of adrenaline has kicked in. He quickly reaches out and …
cut to:
… It was four years ago, fresh out of college, a shiney new MIS degree tucked under his arm. He was thinner then and full of hope. His first week on the job. A forum moderator position was just a foot in the door, he was destined to be CEO. Everything was going his way, even that cute receptionist, “Ramona” was starting to flirt with him.
Some said that he was too fresh for the responsablity, that a green kid like that should never be saddled with the awesome responsabiliy of moderating a technical forum. Others said he was just lazy.
Regardless, he let one slip by. A dreaded link to an exam cheat sheet. This wasn’t just an ordinary link to a study guide, oh no. It was a link to actual exam questions and answers to a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer exam.
Nobody knew about the mistake until the MS helocopter landed on the company roof. Word spread quickly that “the lawyers” were on the way. His phone rang … and rang… and rang … it wasn’t until the sixth ring when he answered it. “Yes, I understand, yes sir, no sir, never again sir,” his speach growing ever quieter until he slowly put the receiver down.
He vowed from that day forward, no cheaters would ever post to his forum.
cut back:
… bans your user name from the forum and deletes your thread.
End of story.
Seriously, “Girl Geekette”, I don’t think their reaction would have been as strong if you had named your posting or link “Study Guide” instead of “Cheat Sheet”. They probably did not follow your link and looked at that fine piece of work.
There loss! Let them dye the slow death of “being to busy to look at the facts.” Many companies go that way.
Good news, and mega kudos!!!
The good news is that you are the number 2 google listing under the search phrase:
xk0-002
The truth can not hide from the mighty google spiders!
The Kudos come from the fact that I am a Linux instructor (Cisco, Unix, and Novell, too!). I found your study guide to be an excellent bit of work If I have time, I’m going to mindmap it and use it in my classroom. (I’ll send you a copy too!)
Good work! Thanks for the giving spirit that made you post it in the first place. I guess my (hopefully) amusing little story pays you back (a little) for the effort you put into it.
Louie
AKA “The Blargman”
(Students gave me the nickname, something to do with an old pirate saying “BLARG!”)