Robin -- I agree with you 100%, and I'd like to expand the topic beyond the db_errors project to include any moment you come across someone who might need a little help with something.
All of us who are working on our families here signed the Honor Code, and point #4 says:
We know misunderstandings are inevitable. We try to minimize them by being courteous to everyone, even those who don't act accordingly.
Click that little link up there that says "courteous" and go read that whole page. I'll wait.
Are you back?? Did you read it all? I'm so glad!!
So here's what we all need to take from that:
A) Don't be snippy with people because they don't know what they're doing yet. There's a lot to learn here, and you can't eat the whole elephant at once.
B) This is a hobby. While some of us spend many hours here each day, not everyone is able to do that. So, it's going to take some people longer to work through their profiles than others, and that's OK! After all, these ancestors aren't going anywhere. ;-)
C) If you receive a note from someone who seems frustrated with something that you've done, take it with a grain of salt. Maybe they've had a really awful day; maybe their dog died; maybe their wife is sick; maybe they have a headache; maybe they were in a hurry ... you get my point. Don't take it personally. When someone seems snippy, it could be for any number of reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with you. Maybe you could send them a note and ask if everything's OK because they seem like they're upset. I've done that before. It's an amazing feeling to get a note back from someone apologizing because they didn't realize their message came off that way.
D) If you *do* find yourself in a kerfuffle with someone, and it's not getting better, the best thing you can do is to use the Problems with Members link on the Help menu. It's there to get you help so that you don't have to feel that you're alone dealing with someone who isn't cooperating. It's always good to get a 3rd party who isn't emotionally invested in the situation to take a look. I've always told my kids that there are 3 sides to every story: your side, the other person's side, and the truth. We all bring our own perspective to situations, so getting a neutral party involved will very often bring a more balanced perspective.
I'm done now. Before I go, though, I'd like to share with you my favorite quote. I have it on a big plaque in my family room so that I will be reminded every day to ...
Be silly.
Be honest.
Be kind.
(I stole that from Ralph Waldo Emerson, by the way)
Now go and be good to each other!