Most of the folks who monitor this site have a good understanding of chromatography. It's tempting for a student with a homework problem to ask it here. We understand that, but most of us are not willing to do your homework for you.

Try asking us where to find the information. Or state the problem and tell us where you're having difficulty with it. If you've given it a shot and just don't understand, then someone here might just be willing to explain. But don't just look for answers. We're more likely to tell you how to go about figuring it out for yourself than we are to tell you what the answer is.

After all, when you're out of school, we may have to work with you. We want coworkers who can think!

Amen. I work with too many people unwilling to find the answers for themselves, and instead ask me. I am always willing to help people who need help, but I refuse to do someones work for them.

This also goes for those of you out there, who are not in school anymore, who want the rest of us to still do your work for you. Don't start your discussions with "Does anyone out there know a method for xyz compound?" Search the literature first, try some experiments, then if you are still having trouble, ask some questions giving a full account of what you have tried, and what results you have obtained.

I don't know about that last statement by Merlin. A smart person would check all of their resources and that would include this forum. If someone out there has made or knows of a method to test something and dosn't mind giving it away what is the harm in asking. Why reinvent the wheel?

Perhaps, if you were given a jumpstart on a method and it helped you out, then when someone else needed help you could return the favor. Isn't that what this whole forum is about?

I agree we should not be answering questions for students for their own good. They need to learn. But, out in the real world we need all the help we can get with cutbacks and added responsibilities.

Actually, I don't mind so much if someone asks me for a method for "xyz" compound. He shouldn't expect the whole thing spelled out for him, but general approach, guidelines, considerations -- that's just professional courtesy.

Seems to me that one chromatography reference I have somewhere lists the approach to take in developing a new method: (1) Try the column in the instrument, (2) Ask someone who might know. Always seemed like good advice.

Now that I'm more likely to be the "somone who might know", I don't resent giving back a little. Of course that does not mean that I'm willing to do somebody else's work for him.

I don't so much mind the folks that look for a method for compound X. I mind the folks who ask for help, but don't describe their problem well enough for anyone to offer anything constructive. Simply stating that something had gone wrong then asking for help without really describing the problem, your observations, and what you've already tried won't get you too far. I think those are the folks who need to do their homework.
Also, while I'm in kvetch mode, what's with anonymous posting? I don't get it - why do folks do that? Mebbe I'm old fashioned, but if I have something to say to the world, good or bad, then I see no reason to conceal my identity.

Merely my two cents...

Chris

I think we should let the individuals to decide if they want to respond or not on this web page. If you feel like he or she is a lazy bum, don't respond. On the other hand, if you feel like to share your experience with that individual then do it. Let's go back to to chromatography.

I don't think it is realistic to expect a complete, proven methodology from a posting to a site like this. When I respond to post asking a very general question about a technique I try to give general guidelines. Specific questions get specific answers, and in some cases I will ask for more info. I usually ignore the obvious homework requests, but I will sometimes respond if the number is getting excessive.

To Chris, there are both good and bad reasons for anonymous postings. The bad reason is to bash someone without any accountability. Many people who regularly monitor this board work for instrument companies, and sometimes post general information anonymously to avoid the appearance of bias. There are a few who use anonymous to hide their affiliation while pushing a specific product, but thankfully these are rare.

This posting is turning out to be a little longer than I intended, but basically I don't mind responding to anyone who knows what they need for a specific problem, but I resent posting that ask questions such as "What is chromatography used for?"

I can tell you why I post as Anonymous. I work for a large HPLC company. I used to work for another not-so-large HPLC company. Ron is correct, if someone from HPLC Company XYZ posts a response that suggests using Column Z or contact Company XYZ for that application note, it does appear that there is bias. Maybe there is some bias for some people.

As an Anonymous poster I am free to suggest any column, chemistry or instrument without fear of getting flamed for trying to sell/promote my own products.

In other words, it allows me to use my 10+ yr HPLC experience without getting into petty arguments about non-chromatographic issues.

OK, I'll go for that. I didn't mean to be punitive, I've just seen a number of posts around here that were less than cordial between various anons and it was bugging me.

I am speaking only for myself, mind you, but if you're offering solid advice that can be substantiated, I have no problem with anyone from an LC manufacturer suggesting their (or anyone else's) stuff. As long the advice or suggestion remains within the context of the query and it doesn't become a commercial for xyz's products, I'm OK with it. I figure that people that work for LC manufacturers should have q good bit to say about LC.

Also, it's pretty easy to identify yourself - give a name, but don't use your e-mail address at work or offer any e-mail address at all as I've done in this post. I have identified myself, but haven't given any clue as to where I work this way.

Anyhow, thanks of the comments!

Chris

I think that this board is in general fairly clean from advertising, either good or bad (such as dumping on somebody else's product). I think that this is the important part, not if somebody posts as anonymous or not.
I myself identify myself, if I feel that I have something important to say. If I only ask a question to clarify a posting, I may not do so - for more than one reason. If I indeed want to give some advice that might be constructed to be a commercial, I do this only, if I can send a private e-mail to the person who asked. If I can't do that, I won't answer, even if the answer would solve the problem. For example, I won't answer a question in public how compound ABC can be run even if I have a method on hand that uses one of our columns.
The bottom line of this is that those who give their e-mail address get more and better information than those who don't.

Uwe

OK. Let me throw in my two cents worth. I have helped others on this board before because I've had direct experience with their analyte of interest, agree that one should check all sources of help, of which this is one, and shouldn't have to re-invent the wheel (one example was resolving methyl paraben and phenoxyethanol). When the poster has listed an E-mail I've even E-mailed test method conditions, parts lists, etc. As to anonymous posting, I've even used it a few times just to keep my company (consumer products)out of it, even though we consider most test methods as non-proprietary.

The posting on this message board about carryover and syringe cleaning is the type that gets on my nerves. There is useful information in the posting, but the rah-rah sales orientation is a total turnoff. The information could have been posted in a simple, straightforward manner, and would have been much more useful in that form.

The student is going for sales or administration. Of course, he isn't going to do hard work, mental or physical.
Jim