It is not that the "seasoned veterans" don't want to help you. They want to
know that you have helped yourself first before seeking help from them. It
is obvious when someone asks a question and they haven't tried reading the
manual first. A question that comes up from time to time is "how do I
install mysql?". This is obviously a sign that the person hasn't even
bothered trying to read the manual. The installation isn't just a simple
process and each platform has its differences and odd little quirks. How
can seasoned veterans answer such a question? They can either quote the
whole manual or tell you to download and read it for yourself.
If you had said "I did this, this and this as per the manual but got this
error/have this problem", people are more than willing to assist you, if
they know the answer, and they will also have some idea of where you are
going wrong. Quoting a sentence/example from the manual will show that you
have at least tried on your own first. I answered one guy's question
earlier on today who did just that. Quoted from the manual, that is. At
least that shows he tried first before seeking help.
If you are a newbie to SQL in general, ie. you don't even know how to write
simple SELECT, INSERT and DELETE statements, then you have most certainly
come to the wrong place.
I was a newbie once, but through trial and error and reading and re-reading,
I managed to get it up and running. I have only asked once from the list as
I was a little confused with one section of the manual, but generally, I
thought it is quite a comprehensive and excellent manual, not like Oracle's
which is like a set of Encyclopedias.
I have also found this list and the archive of this list to be far more
valuable than the manual itself as the problems are real problems.
If you really find the manual that confusing, perhaps you should suggest to
the MySQL team on how they can improve it to make it easier for others who
will follow in your footsteps.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edwin Martinez" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Neff Patrick K" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 22:08
Subject: Re: Please read the manual
> Mr. Samuel,
> Im new in this field (mysql, linux, etc.), I am a MCSE, and at this time,
I try to
> impulse this software (Mysql, Linux, etc) in Central America, I see many
feactures
> in this software but I need to Know if exist a maillist for dummies as I,
mybe in a
> two months I can give to people like you (MySQL Development Team) a good
feed back
> to make this software the best of the world, that I think is your
objetive, please,
> patience sir.
>
> Thanks
> Edwin
>
> Neff Patrick K ha escrito:
>
> > Maybe it is the lack of coffee this morning talking or maybe it is the
fact
> > that I have spent 4 days trying to get mysql up and running on linux(a
> > platform I am unfamiliar with) but I assumes this mailing list would
allow
> > me to have contact with other users who have been thru the same issues I
> > have had. Apparently I was wrong. You see I am a newbie too and what
turned
> > me on to mysql ,linux and the open source movement was the fact that it
> > seems to focus on the power of people and there combined knowledge. I am
not
> > stupid and I can read in fact I have look over this manual about 100
times
> > now the last four evenings. I apologize for wasting anyone's time but
before
> > I can become a valid contributor to a group dealing with a specific
software
> > I first have to be able to get the thing running. I in fact finally got
> > mysql up and running last night but not one word in your manual helped
me do
> > it. So in fact all the reading in the world would have left me sitting
in
> > the same position. I am sorry to rant and rave but maybe if some
seasoned
> > user on this mailing list (not the developers) would help us newbies
then we
> > could all work together to. That is my two cents sorry to waste your
time
> > with it.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tõnu Samuel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 4:58 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Please read the manual
> >
> > Maybe it is my depression and I see everything in black but .... please
> > read manual before posting questions in this list. Manual covers at
> > least 90% questions asked here. If manual does not cover them, we will
> > put new chapters in it. This is all because what we do in this list can
> > be called FREE support. As much I know, most of our developers are
> > spending 2..4 hours per day just reading all related groups and
> > answering questions "Error 2002: Can't connect via socket
> > /tmp/mysql.sock".
> >
> > Also I wanted to ask everyone who gets revenue from MySQL still buy
> > support contract. While MySQL is free to users there are people behind
> > it who eat, buy books, pay for internet connection get hardware and buy
> > icecream to kids. This is not about home users. There are companies on
> > NASDAQ who use heavily different open source software for their success
> > and have never paid a penny. For that money you get guaranteed answers.
> >
> > MySQL is free, support in this list is partially free but do not abuse
> > it, then it can stay free in future.
> >
> > --
> > MySQL Development Team
> > __ ___ ___ ____ __
> > / |/ /_ __/ __/ __ \/ / Tonu Samuel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > / /|_/ / // /\ \/ /_/ / /__ MySQL AB, http://www.mysql.com/
> > /_/ /_/\_, /___/\___\_\___/ Tallinn, Estonia
> > <___/
> >
> > --
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Please check "http://www.mysql.com/documentation/manual.php" before
> > posting. To request this thread, e-mail
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> >
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> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >
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> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Before posting, please check:
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> >
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>
> --
> Edwin Martinez G.
> Ingenieria Aplicada S.A. / Grupo MICRO
> Guatemala, Guatemala
> Tel: +(502) 3326480 / 3345175
> Web: http://www.micro.com.gt
>
>
>
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