[GLUG] OT: Nettiquette

["Casper Labuschagne" <casperl@xxxxxxxxx>]

During February there was a discussion on Nettiquette and Mischa, among others said:
  >> 3) Before asking a question, always check the mailing list archive at
  >>         http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/flists.php3
  >documentation, but in the past there have been certain people, (one in
  >particular) who made a habit of asking straight forward questions to which their
  >were straight forward answers easily found in the man pages.
  >Mischa Capazario

May I offer a suggestion that the most important thing is to clearly indicate in the message subject the status of the message eg OT: or even NEWBIE: or whatever to save time for those scanning literally thousands of emails.

However, as someone who habitually downloads and reads these lists monthly, I learn from the persons posing 'straight forward questions with straight forward answers easily found in the man pages.'  IMHO the whole problem with the man pages is that is a man(ual) effort, that (mostly) finding info in them is anything but straightforward and easy.  I know they are there, I know where they are, how to use them, and I DO USE THEM, but it is nearly always a slog and at best a hit and miss affair.  It is as though that little gem of information is forever hidden in a vast forest of obtuse 'documentation'.

Where I certainly learn the most is from looking at other people's NEWBIE questions on lists such as these and then trying out their solutions for myself so that hopefully I do not have to ask that same question.  Now if those 'dumb' questions are not asked on this list then I may one day be forced to ask them.  :~)

When I am really stuck one day, I would like to know that I can quickly jump on the bandwagon without receiving RTFM as a reply, but only as long as I don't promise to make a habit of it.

A word of thanks for the patient people that reply on this list with excellent solutions.


Casper Labuschagne
Durban, South Africa
casperl@xxxxxxxxx


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