This would all be fine and dandy - if your construct were correct. I draw 
your attention to the word "insist" before your bullet points 
below.  "Bullet points" is perhaps ironically apropos - because the fact 
is, nobody has a gun to your head. Nobody can compel someone else to 
educate them/read documentation for them/etc via email to a mailing list. 
It's your choice to respond.

I understand where you are coming from with your rant, but I also believe 
we should err on the side of compassion and humanity when dealing with 
ignorance (ignorance in the specific form, 'lack of knowledge on the 
subject at hand'.) Asking questions is the first step towards learning. 
Yes, it is frustrating when the same questions get asked over and over by 
different people. I've lost count of the times on the sqwebmail list that 
someone has asked a short or long question about something, and Mister Sam 
replies simply "See INSTALL".

In my early days learning UNIX systems administration (nine years ago), I 
posted to comp.unix.solaris a few times. My questions were not newbie 
questions, but compared with what some of the seasoned experts there knew, 
the questions were trivial. However, I didn't get flamed for asking a 
question that in relative terms to their expertise was a newbie question. 
For that I'm thankful. And i've reciprocated many, many times with others, 
by sharing my knowledge without judgement. True - if someone comes to me 
with the same question three separate times, I'll probably become reticent.

bottom line: answer or don't answer or redirect the questioner to the 
appropriate place. But ultimately, it's all your choice. Nobody is forcing 
you or anyone else to reply to this person's question.

See THE GOLDEN RULE.

and that's _my_ rant for the day!   ;^)


At 05:15 AM 9/18/2002, Steve Fulton wrote:
>At 13:37 18/09/2002 +0200, Oliver Etzel - GoodnGo.COM \(R\) wrote:
>
>It appears you have very little idea of how a unix-like OS works.  I 
>suggest you start educating yourself regarding the OS you are using.  Once 
>you have a clue about what exactly this "ENV variable" is, then learn 
>about how Qmail works at http://cr.yp.to and www.lifewithqmail.org .. even 
>better, join the Qmail mailing list at cr.yp.to and ask there.
>
>My final comment is directed at those who insist:
>
>1.  We teach the them basics of unix systems administration (or even the 
>basic syntax).
>
>2.  We read the documentation or list archives for them.
>
>3.  We solve their problems as they are unwilling to make the attempt.
>
>4.  Or who fail to repeatedly provide a minimum explaination of what the 
>problem is, or do so poorly.
>
>A lot of people spend their precious time assisting others on this list, 
>and usually do so without resorting to arrogant and rude tactics.  Just 
>because we are *nice* enough to assist does not give anyone carte blanche 
>approval to use us.   If you can't figure out the basics, consider hiring 
>one of the many talented consultants on this list to solve your problems 
>for you -- Your customers will be satisfied and you'll probably find your 
>job is more secure because of it.
>
></rant>
>
>-- Steve
>
>>Hello Peter, hello all,
>>
>> > ..... ? Make sure the program you set with ENV-variable
>> > 'QMAILQUEUE' is executable and does not crash.
>>
>>My Question: How and where can I set the ENV variable?
>>
>>Regs.
>>
>>Oliver Etzel
>>
>>flatrate serverhousing www.flathousing.com
>

Paul Theodoropoulos
http://www.anastrophe.com
Help Cure Alzheimer's with your PC's spare time:
http://folding.stanford.edu


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