From: "Jacob Fugal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 4:43 PM > Mike, although you have a point in your answer, it lacks tact. If we > want to retain new linux users, tact is what's necessary. You could > just as easily have said something along the lines of Michael Torrie's > reply, and then added the helpful link to the HOWTO. I'm sure Blair > appreciates the knowledge that his question was poorly formulated and > there was an existing article which could help him through the common > problems. A short post linking to the HOWTO is not bad; it is the > manner in which *we* convey that knowledge which will determine > whether his experience is positive or negative.
Yes, you do have a good point; however, I am very glad that we have on this list people who think and act like mhalcrow. At times he/they have replied very bluntly to certain posts; at other times he/they have put more than their share of work into helping someone out. I like the mix; it's fun, it's interesting and over all has done much more good than harm. I am also pleased that we have people like Jacob who can come out and remind us all to be a little nicer to n00bz or to those who ask newb-ish questions. I have to admit though that most people joining our list are University students and really should know how to ask a good question; I'm not expecting a great or perfect question, just a good one. Some of the questions that come across the list cause me to imagine the person in a Biology class, raising his/her hand and asking, "So, tell me what a cell is and what it does." Being that these are University students, I expect more and believe that they have the ability to do more; when they don't, it seems they aren't putting much work into their question and/or into learning about the subject. Thanks for your comments, Matt W. ____________________ BYU Unix Users Group http://uug.byu.edu/ ___________________________________________________________________ List Info: http://uug.byu.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uug-list
