On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 20:10, Jeff Waugh wrote: > Much of the friendliness part of it comes from phrasing and > manner. "RTFM" is not friendly or helpful. > > Directing someone towards relevant documentation is a really good way of > helping. Telling them to read the fucking manual [1] is insulting.
No, it's not. I will accept you read it that way. I'll accept that some other people read it that way. I don't accept that it is. That is in the mind of the reader. It can be intended that way, but it isn't inherently intended that way. If you can't see that, I see a fixation in your viewpoint, like someone who can't accept anyone saying 'damn' in public. But I don't see it's inherent to the term. I have no difficulty sharing the joke in RTFM with my friends, including the non-computer savvy ones. There's an aspect of personal self-comfort and maturity that allows people to not take everything personally - I'm happy to say I have friends like this. You can say how it is for you as much as you like - but you are definitely not speaking for everyone, and I'm glad you're not speaking for most of the people in my life. I find it is legitimate and worthwhile to expect people to grow into tolerance, rather than downsize my own approach to match the least common denominator - and stay there. You being insulted is not the same as everyone being insulted - you aren't that universal. My own friends show me this daily. Regard, Bret
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