> Is there a solution? Well, the obvious one is to allow people to ask
> newbieish
> questions without being flamed. Even though qmail is logical, it's complex;
> just because something is logical and coherent, doesn't mean it's
> comprehensible.
> Quantum physics theory is even more elegant, but considerably less
> comprehensible.
>
> But I understand that many people don't want the list inundated and their
> mailboxes
> invaded. I think that's perfectly reasonable. So, is there any alternative?
I agree with others that it's not that the question may be simple, it's
that fundamentally many of us believe that the questioner has had to make
a reasonable attempt to help themselves. Reasonable to their own abilities.
If they can find this list and email to it, then it's hard to believe
that they cannot find the FAQ/INSTALL docs that come with the package
they've installed.
But even if they don't find existing docs in the first instance, when
pointed to such docs I expect the questioner to go to the trouble of reading
and trying to understand those docs.
If the docs are insufficient, I expect the questioner to help evolve the
docs by identifying where they are insufficient and what they'd like to see
in them. Most authors appreciate useful feedback!
Alternatively, if the questioner believes their situation is different, then
it's reasonable to expect that they will say "I read this, but my situation
seems different because of..."
In short. Many of us would rather teach people how to fish rather than give
them fish. So, when people insist on freebie fish, some of us get a little
frustrated.
Regards.
