Fredrik Lundh wrote: > (I do find this new "I'm going to nitpick on single sentences, no matter > what context they appears in" trend a bit boring, frankly. if you think > that a statement may be misinterpreted, add a clarification or a footnote. > don't assume that you're the only one who know how things work).
Agree. It also seems to be part of a general trend of increased flaming/bickering in comp.lang.python over the last half-decade. When I started frequenting the python newsgroup a couple of years ago, I noticed the big difference between it and other newsgroups was a willingness to help others to learn and an awareness that "We were all once beginners." Yes, I know the (present) argument behind that is: "Why should I have to explain the same things 1000x over to people who can't use Google or read the tutorials.", but back in 1999-2000, the solution the community had informally settled on, was for people to help those just below them in experience/proficiency. (Including politely pointing others to Google or the Tutorials.) The "elites" helped the "powerusers". The "powerusers" helped the "medium-term users." The "medium-term users" helped the "year-long users" and The "year-long users" helped the "newbies". Rather than condescendingly blast someone for asking a "newbie" question, nearly everyone but the "year-long users" would just ignore the question, knowing that the "newbies" would get help from someone who may have only learnt the solution one or two months ago. As a result, new users were quickly brought into the group and up to speed, and they often had the desire to now help others who encountered the same problem. "Gee, _fred_ really helped me out there, without making me feel like a complete idjit. Oh, somebody is asking the same problem. Rather than waste _fred_'s time repeating himself, I know enough that I can cover this question." So in the interest of restoring the pleasantness and cooperation I experienced when I first joined, I ask that people do the following: "If you're sick of answering newbie questions, and don't think you can do so politely, for the sake of the community, DON'T!" You're not that necessary. Joal Heagney -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
