My brain hurts, and I don't have anyplace to set my cup of Diet Coke.
What should I do?

In Epidemics, Book I, Section XI, Hippocrates wrote:

"As to diseases, make a habit of two things: to help, or at least to
do no harm."

Good advice for Google Answers researchers also.

[First Do No Harm]
http://www.geocities.com/everwild7/noharm.html

[Magnetic Deep Brain Stimulation]
http://www.wmrc.com/businessbriefing/pdf/healthcare2002/reference/04.pdf

[Asprin - It Does a Body Good]
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5328615.htm

Regarding placement of soda cans, I have these recommendations:

http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=135574

For cups of Diet Coke, however, I recommend you use that little shelf
that comes out of the front of your PC...

Or is that where we started on this one?

kindest regards, mathtalk


Search Strategy

Keywords:  cherchez la femme

Researcher provided excellent resources in a fast and professional manner!
Thanks!

Hmm...I never knew that mathtalk-ga and maxhodges-ga were one and the
same person.  Are we allowed to use more than one alias on Google
Answers?

Max, 

You might want to refer to the February 28th special edition of the
newsletter - specifically the first subject in the Editorial Policy
section.

--Missy

Thank you missy-ga, that was news to me.

I checked the Researcher Guidelines and the Terms of Service and their
is no mention of this policy. It's not a violation of google's policy
per se. Google editor's are just asking as a courtesy that we give the
named researcher a chance to answer, but considering that mathtalk-ga
has not exhibited any paricular expertise in the area of headaches and
placement of cans of diet coke...anyway, we'll see what the editors
think. Cheers, max

Max,

Rule number one of good customer service is "Give the customers what
they want."

This customer *clearly* wanted Mathtalk-ga to answer her question. 

The needs and desires of the customer should ALWAYS come before your
personal desire for compensation.  It's our *responsibility* and
*contractual obligation* to give our customers what they want.

-- Missy

Missy-ga, good point. Although I joined Google Answer's nearly a year
ago, I haven't used it much to answer questions until very recently. I
remember your name from way back when and your answers are often very
impressive. Anyway, I've made some mistakes along the way, but I'm
learning. Learning which questions to avoid has also been part of that
learning... ;)

I have a question for you missy-ga. If I post it would you answer:
-Given the time you spend on average answering Google Answer questions
and the payments that you receive, and you estimate about how much you
make per hour as a Google researcher? Too personal?

Thanks!
Max

Max, 

I don't think the wages so generously paid by the customers I serve
are particularly germane to the topic here.  It's not a secret, mind. 
The WSJ told the whole world a while ago.

If you're serious about learning from your mistakes, I would suggest
you take your mind off of my bank account, and put it on to the
Newsletter Archive, the Training Manual, and the Guidelines.  *That*
knowledge - and the practical application of it - matters a great deal
more than the knowledge of my wages.


Regards,

--Missy

The PDF marked [Magnetic Deep Brain Stimulation] is actually a
monograph about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.  I'm nitpicking
here, I admit, but TMS actually is not useful in any way for the deep
structures of the brain, those typically accessed by electrodes for
'deep brain stimulation.'  Rather, its effects are felt to be limited
to the cortical surface, and in fact to only those areas of the cortex
which are atop gyri over the convexities of the hemispheres.

Doesn't help you put your soda can down, I know :)