In 2005, a colleague told me about these online places called "SDN forums". They were said to contain information that couldn't be found elsewhere.
I used my S-number to log on, and to browse the threads. I was not very impressed with the content, and I subsequently lost interest in SDN, and participated in several other of the online forums not sponsored by SAP.
Periodically, though, I logged back onto the SDN forums. I began noticing that there was one member who always had helpful and accurate answers. In those days, he was only known as "Brahmankar". I was then known as...well, a different name than my current SCN pseudonym.
"Brahmankar" showed me that SDN (later to become SCN) was a place where SAP users could get together and share hard-won insights, that were unavailable except by hiring (expensive) consulting services.
I began watching for this "Brahmankar" person's threads. I was so inspired by his helpful answers, that I began to think that I might also be able to give some small offerings back to this forum, in the same manner that he had demonstrated. I felt obligated to somehow pay something back to the community for the help that I had greedily taken and used for my own personal benefit. I tentatively began answering a few questions, and have continued to do so, off and on, ever since.
Over the years, "Brahmankar" revealed his first name (well, it really wasn't much of a secret). SDN morphed into SCN. Time passed. Sometimes, Rupesh's answers were prolific, sometimes we didn't hear from him very much. Always, though, we were not led astray. You could always take his answers to the bank.
Most of us owe a major debt to SCN, and especially to the unselfish contributions of the bedrocks of these sites, who make this whole thing possible. I personally count Rupesh as one of the major bedrocks, and for me he is one of the main reasons I keep coming back.
Points by themselves are to me meaningless. Their only value to use as a gauge to determine relatively how helpful a member has been. I salute Rupesh's recent achievement in points, even though I have never seen any evidence that points are his primary motivation. He has always been friendly and helpful, and I continue to learn every day from his experiences, and to be inspired by his presence on SCN.
Thanks Rupesh! May your burdens always be light!
DB49