I work for a private investigator who has (hands down) the most
credibility of ANY law enforcement agent or agency in the country when
it comes to finding missing persons. I'm looking for someone to teach
me the most effecient way of using the PC to assist her. My own
computer skills are probably in the "near-expert" category, as I've
been programming as a hobby since my post-grad days at MIT in the
70's. HERE IS MY QUESTION: Where would I be most likely to post an ad
to find such a tutor/teacher? |
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
19 Aug 2005 09:52 PDT
Hello billyjoemcallister-ga,
Do you need instruction in person? If yes, where are you located or
where do you want to meet with the instructor? Are you interested in
phone/online/e-mail instruction? Please tell us about the HW/SW you
have available for this.
The title of your questin says "Internet Research Specialist" but the
body of the question ask for more general assistance, "I'm looking for
someone to teach
me the most effecient way of using the PC to assist her." You also
state that you have "near-expert" computer skills. Please clarify what
kind of training you're looking for. The more you can tell us about
your situation, the more likely we will be able to get you the
information you need.
I look forward to your clarification.
~ czh ~
|
Clarification of Question by
billyjoemcallister-ga
on
19 Aug 2005 10:27 PDT
I live in Albany, NY in an assisted living facility. (I'm 55 and have Parkinson's)
Prefer all "lessons" by phone.
HW: Dell box with 2 gigs of RAM and a terabyte of storage. All the
usual bells and whistles.
SW: You name it. I've got it. (and if I don't, I will have in less than 30 min)
|
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
19 Aug 2005 10:35 PDT
Hello again billyjoemcallister-ga,
Thank you for the clarification. However, I still don't know what you
need until you reply to the second part of my query.
The title of your question says "Internet Research Specialist" but the
body asks for more general assistance. You said: "I'm looking for
someone to teach me the most effecient way of using the PC to assist
her." You also said you're a "near-expert" with computer skills.
What kind of training are you looking for? What subjects/topics do you
want instruction in? What are things that you can't do now but would
expect to be able to do after the training?
Thanks.
~ czh ~
|
Clarification of Question by
billyjoemcallister-ga
on
19 Aug 2005 12:39 PDT
My query assumed YOU know something about the field of Internet Search
Technology. Maybe I made made a goofy assumption. If I were in your
shoes, my approach would be:
"OK, how WOULD I USE the Internet to help locate missing persons? and
go from there.
If I knew how to EVEN BEGIN to use cuttting edge data base
protocols(or whatever might be helpful in finding a missing person)why
would I be giving you $50 of my money. And frankly, your attitude is a
little too aggressive for my tastes. Either find a way to ask me
something without barking at me, or pass this one on.
|
Clarification of Question by
billyjoemcallister-ga
on
19 Aug 2005 23:57 PDT
I APOLOGIZE! I am humbled by what an a__hole I was. Truth is, I was on
my knees for the better part of the day trying to deal with
Parkinson's, Congestive Heart Failure, and Systemic Rheumatoid
Arthritis. NOT AN EXCUSE - I am still fully responsible for a rude and
insulting response to your question, and for that I'm genuinely sorry.
I just hope you can find it within you to forgive my behavior.
If you don't want to work with me, I'll understand. And thanks for hearing me out.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
20 Aug 2005 06:48 PDT
Dear billyjoemcallister-ga,
I am so sorry to hear about your illness and physical struggles.
Apology accepted. I'm sorry too if my questions sounded rude to you.
Let me try to rephrase what I'm trying to understand.
You say you want to help your private investigator boss by learning
how to conduct internet research. My confusion comes from you also
saying that you're interested in maximizing your use of your PC in
assisting her. Does your boss use the computer now? Does she know how
to use e-mail, basic computer operation, how to use a search engine?
It would help to know your boss' level of knowledge since you want to
help her use her resources more effectively. Do you communicate with
your boss in person, by phone or e-mail. How do you plan to send the
information you find to her?
What is your level of familiarity with the web and web searching? Have
you used any search engines? What database resources are you familiar
with? The more we can learn about your current level of knowledge and
expertise and the scope of what you hope to learn and the expected
outcome of that learning, the more likely one of the researchers can
help you with finding what you need.
Please be patient with our need to ask for clarification. Based on
your prior activity on Google Anwers, we can see that up front
clarification is very important in working with you.
http://answers.google.com/answers/search?q=billyjoemcallister-ga&qtype=all
Since you've been unhappy in your prior dealings with Google Answers,
some researchers may be reluctant to take on your question. I suggest
that you review these links so that you can get the best results from
using this service.
http://answers.google.com/answers/faq.html
http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html
I await your further clarifications. Thanks.
~ czh ~
|
Clarification of Question by
billyjoemcallister-ga
on
20 Aug 2005 09:33 PDT
Thank you for your patience and understanding. ("czh" must be a
shortened version of "Kanzeon")
CLARIFICATION:
My boss - we'll call her Mary - is within a short drive from the
long-term care facility I'm in. She has at least two computers that I
know of, and her comfort level is about what you might expect from a
well-trained and highly motivated legal secretary who's also search
engine savvy. (sans LAN - she's still on a POTS) Currently,99% of our
communication is by phone or in person, although I'm sure she would
have no problem introducing mobile components in the mix. She is a
quick study.
I cut my teeth on a PDP-1145 in 1975, and got under the hood of DOS
1.1 in '81 when IBM released their first PC. But I never made a living
as a code jockey, nor have I ever been professionally connected with
IT directly. (although I was, for a decade, the publisher of a
successful new media firm.) Truth is, I've just "tinkered" with PCs
for the most part. I now build my own boxes because the industry has a
blind spot re: accessibility, and I know just enough to be dangerous
about everything from assembler to VB.
What would I LIKE to learn in order to be more helpful to Mary? I
honestly don't know. I guess the reason I really wrote was foo some
guidance in that area. Thank you.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
20 Aug 2005 10:47 PDT
Hello again,
You said that Mary specializes in finding missing persons. How does
she get her business/assignments? What are the major steps/activities
she takes to pursue the search? You say she's search engine savvy.
What are the online tools she's using already. Which of her search
activities would she like to improve or be more effective at? Has she
expressed a need for access to databases or proprietary information?
Which/what? In essence, what are the research problems that you and
Mary are trying to solve and what are the desired outcomes that
training might lead to?
Thanks.
~ czh ~
|
Clarification of Question by
billyjoemcallister-ga
on
20 Aug 2005 19:57 PDT
How does she get her business/assignments?
...word-of-mouth (she's written extensively on the subject)
What are the major steps/activities she takes to pursue the search?
...she's an intuative (NOT PSYCHIC) who works very well with a
technique she teaches German Shepherds.
Has she expressed a need for access to databases or proprietary information?
...yes
Which/what? In essence, what are the research problems that you and
Mary are trying to solve and what are the desired outcomes that
training might lead to?
Mary and I were both hoping to establish "profiles" of missing
persons by coordinating data from previous searches (there are more
liabilities than assets with the dogs. She'd like to use them as a
last resort), but neither of us is that sophisticated with the latest
database techniques.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
20 Aug 2005 20:23 PDT
Dear billyjoemcallister-ga,
Thank you for the additional information. I'm leaving this question
open for other researchers because despite the many clarifications
between us I still don't understand what you're looking for or how I
could answer your question.
I wish you and your boss success in finding missing persons and
running a successful business.
All the best.
~ czh ~
|
