Re: [cobalt-users] Open Letter -- Etiquette

[Kris Dahl <krislists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> If you see the same questions being asked, just ignore them.  If you think
> that someone should do more investigation on their own, don't respond.
> Flaming just starts another worthless thread! You have to expect certain
> common questions to cycle through the list fairly often.  There is more
> bandwidth being wasted complaining about repeated questions than the
> questions themselves take! I think a Microsoft vs Macintosh vs Linux debate
> would be more productive than some of the stuff I've seen here.

The problem is that ignoring a question doesn't provide an answer.  Telling
someone to check the archives is not a 'flame', its a helpful suggestion.
By following those directions the person posing the question will find their
answer.  What is wrong with that?

> As someone once suggested, it would be nice if a link to the FAQ could be
> embedded in the mailing but until then, let's take it a little easy.

Since you opened it up for discussion, I would like to pipe in with my 2
cents.  "Harshness" as you call it... rarely if EVER has someone been too
caustic or 'harsh'.  Being curt and concise != harsh, rather it is
efficient.  Which is the whole point.

I think you may have seen RTFM a couple times.  Its not harsh to say that,
rather it is usually informative, such as : "RTFM. Check the link at the
bottom of the page for the archives.  Or the knowledgebase at
kb.cobaltnet.com".  If someone says "You big blockhead?  Are you an idiot?
RTFM." it would be one thing.  But 95% of the time is the former and not the
latter.  So what is the big deal?

To further make a point... When you were a kid and if you dad says "Don't
piss on the electric fence, it'll hurt big time" will you believe him?  No,
you'll piss on it first chance you get.  But it will be the last time you do
it.  Same thing with getting a well structured flame once in a while should
hopefully embarass you to the point that you don't waste everyone's time in
the future.  How do you think us experienced users learned how to
communicate in such a forum... by being at the spicy end of a flame when we
were beginning.  Consider it a right of passage.

-k