[devmor]

Showing what you have done to help yourself is by far the most effective way to get help in my experience - not only does it show that you aren’t just helpless and will be a drain on resources, it also gives the person helping you a jumping-off point, avoiding potential troubleshooting and back-and-forth questions.

I make sure to do this at work, when I’m asking questions about things outside of my domain. I do it when talking to tech support for my ISP or phone, when I contact maintenance for my apartment and when I take my car in for service.