On Fri, May 07, 2004 at 03:56:06PM -0500, Kent West wrote: > Chris Metzler wrote: > > >It's usually the case when someone says "RTFM" or "STFW" that they're very > >aware that the answer is easily found that way. Often they themselves > >have just verified this, and are looking at the needed information as they > >type that response. > > > > > > In which case it'd be really nice if they'd take that little extra step > to post the address or man page at which they're looking. Or even copy > and paste it into the message, even though it may be in a hundred > different places on the web already. Granted, that takes a few seconds > more, and a few more bytes of network bandwidth/storage, but it's so > much more Customer Service oriented and helps to make Debianites look > more professional/courteous. (Not that that's our goal, but still . . . .) >
A fairly common problem for a newbie is: I have this problem. I don't know enough to know whether it is a common problem or is unique to me. I don't know a name for the problem, or searchs term that I might use to discover discussions of this problem. And, maybe even, I don't know enough to know whether, when I have found an answer, it is truly an answer to my problem or not. There is an enormous body of text out there. Some of it might be relavant to the newbie's problem, but without some guidance, he is unlikely to recognize the relavant stuff. Instead of "RTFM." it would be better to respond with "Look at ...(a URL)" or "Search man page for '...' " or some such clue as to where to look for the good stuff on whatever he is having a problem with. If the answer is easy to find for the cogniscenti, give the steps in finding it, and the gist to the answer. Don't give the answer translated into the terms used by the newbie. Show him where to find the answer, and where the problem is discussed in standard technical jargon. -- Paul E Condon [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
