[consulting] Who exactly is this list for?

[George]

i think if you're using this list to look for consultants, you ask 
*them* what drupal can and can't do and *not* this list, and pay for 
their time if you don't want to search for the answers. what drupal can 
and can't do has been answered elsewhere many times over. if you're 
looking for free programming services, then this list is not, or 
shouldn't be the place.

neither this is not (or shouldn't be) a support list, so people asking 
'i want drupal to do x, y and z, how do i do it?', are in the wrong 
place imo. the answer is 'hire someone to do the work you're supposedly 
being paid to do'. of course the question is related to drupal 
consulting - it's what we as consultants get paid to do, not tell 
someone how to do it - for free. just as socks are also related to 
drupal consultants, still, this list is not a suitable place to discuss 
them.

rules desperately need to be drawn up to prevent this from becoming a 
free-for-all, and making sure the right people see, and join, this list 
otherwise the list becomes useless cruft.

my 2c.

mark at markery.com wrote:
> I am generally looking to use this forum to find consultants to assist 
> with a Drupal deployment. I'm looking for experts who can tell me what 
> Drupal can do well, but I also need people that can sort out when it 
> can't.
>
> I think as long as the focus is kept on Drupal and people are trying 
> to find ways to solve problems in Drupal first, then my needs are met.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>
>     -------- Original Message --------
>     Subject: Re: [consulting] Who exactly is this list for?
>     From: "Darrel O'Pry" <darrel.opry at gmail.com>
>     Date: Wed, March 04, 2009 10:51 am
>     To: "A list for Drupal consultants and Drupal service/hosting
>     providers" <consulting at drupal.org>
>
>     At the end of the day you have to meet a clients business needs
>     and budget, regardless of the tool you use... This list just
>     happens to be populated with people who prefer Drupal.. I don't
>     think it is toxic by any means to analyze other products... Heck
>     It probably even helps illustrate which parts of Drupal are behind
>     the rest of the market...
>
>     I think the whole `Who is this list for` discussion is a waste of
>     time. I don't think it's really in need of an identity crisis..
>     It's a list for consultants who use Drupal. Keep it open and
>     inclusive. Nothing good comes of elitism or exclusiveness, it
>     slows the exchange of ideas and experience.
>
>     .darrel.
>
>     On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 1:20 PM, Andrew R. Kelly
>     <arkelly at cognisync.com <mailto:arkelly at cognisync.com>> wrote:
>
>         Brian,
>
>         Your response is in line with what I was thinking about after
>         my last post,
>         that there are varying types of business models on this list, from
>         individual Drupal experts to tool-agnostic experts (like
>         yourself) to
>         Drupal-based solution providers (like my firm).  These
>         different models are
>         manifesting themselves in conversations, which I believe is
>         harmful.  IMO
>         conversations on this list should not be aligned with member
>         business
>         models, they should be aligned with proliferating Drupal in a
>         responsible
>         manner.  So as an example, I'd be disappointed if someone
>         posted to this
>         list "I have a lead on an engagement to provide discussion
>         forums to a
>         client, how do I position Drupal against vBulletin?" and have
>         "They really
>         should use vBulletin it's a better product" be an acceptable
>         response.  Why?
>         Because Drupal forums are a viable market player and this
>         group, in this
>         particular setting, cares about proliferating the use of
>         Drupal, not
>         ensuring that Company X (who we don't even know) has a good
>         discussion
>         forum.
>
>         I mean no disrespect, just trying to gauge the culture of this
>         list.  If I'm
>         in a minority that has Drupal as a cornerstone of their
>         business then so be
>         it I'll shut up :)
>
>         Btw the vote is a good idea but I think this conversation is
>         worthwhile
>         along side it.
>
>         Andrew
>
>
>         Andrew,
>
>         As much as some day I hope Drupal is able to be everything to
>         everyone,
>         it still does not match up to standalone solutions in some
>         areas such as
>         wikis or forums. *puts on asbestos underwear*
>
>         The work I do isn't necessarily about promoting Drupal. It's about
>         providing my clients the best solution to their needs at the
>         best price.
>         In most situations, Drupal is the solution of choice. However,
>         I can't
>         in good conscience recommend a client use Drupal if all they
>         want is a
>         forum (for instance). The costs of making a pure Drupal
>         solution match
>         up to the feature set of VBulletin is cost prohibitive if that
>         is what
>         the client wants.
>
>         Like I said above - I love Drupal, and will use it as far as
>         is feasible
>         to accomplish my clients' objectives. But it's just one tool
>         in the
>         toolbox, and occasionally, it's not the right one from a
>         cost/benefit
>         perspective.
>
>         Brian
>
>
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