On 2011 Dec 21, at 17:42, Corn Walker wrote:

> On Dec 21, 2011, at 6:18 PM, Richard S. Russell wrote:
> 
>> As I am retired and do my database work entirely pro bono for deserving non-profit organizations, I am not unduly constrained by the profit motive, so I can call 'em as I sees 'em.
> 
> Would you not agree that it is preferable that one be charitable rather than derogatory? I see this as an opportunity both to better learn the motivations behind the request as well as educate the client about best practices in design and ways that a database system might improve upon their process. Both parties come out ahead and feeling positively about the experience rather than adversarial.


You are right as usual, Corn.

I just get frustrated at people who will hire somebody who's competent at databases specifically to WORK on databases and then ignore or flout best database practices as if they know better. It's as if I hired an auto mechanic to fix my car (a subject about which I know nothing) and insisted that he or she had to insert a particular brand of carburetor because my dad always used them, utterly oblivious to the fact that modern cars don't even HAVE carburetors any more.

Why hire an expert if you don't want to listen to expert advice? Heck, hire your shiftless cousin Vinnie. He'll do whatever you tell him, with no hifalutin backtalk, and he probably needs the money more.

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Richard S. Russell
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