On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 7:54 AM, Wietse Venema <wie...@porcupine.org> wrote:
> Dave: > > What's with you guys on this list who have the answers yet are just > handing > > out clues one by one and making me guess about the answer over the course > of > > several email exchanges? Fortunately, there are some guys on this list > that > > don't engage in those psychological games and I have greatly benefited > from > > their help and I do appreciate it! > > "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish > and he will eat for a lifetime." > > These are the rules of this mailing list. Take it or leave it. > > Wietse > I chose to challenge it rather than just take it or leave it. (Wasn't that obvious?) Every man has to eat. Not every "man" has to become proficient in specific technical skills. Some people can add more good to the world in other areas (where they have the passion, knowledge, etc.) The assumption, of a few people on this list, is that giving out knowledge (which they already possess) to sincere questioners in a restricted fashion produces an overall positive result. I challenge this assumption. In the general case, it is nothing more than a forced reduction in overall productivity. The overall application of knowledge in the world is reduced by this behavior -- in the general case. (Obviously there are situations when it is OK to using this teaching format. But not everyone who asks a question here fits the narrow definitions a few people on this list have constructed in their minds.)
