Is Linux just a hobby?

[Edvard]

...
I mentioned the RTFMs earlier that I got in the forae.  There's a little more to that than just the statement.  Almost every time someone makes that recommendation, they are making a number of assumptions.  First, they assume that you have not read the manual - or man pages.  Second, they assume that if you do read that documentation, you will come away with the same understanding they have.  And, to a lesser extent, they are irritated that your questions intrude on reading the really important stuff in that particular forum.
...

-barney (July 24, 2012, 12:09 PM)

Spot.
Fecking.
On.

As dedicated a Linux fan as I am, I will never hesitate to give an answer to a question honestly asked, and for those very reasons.  I DID RTFM, I DID STFW, and I STILL had to ask stupid questions, (as in, it was stupid I had to ask because the documentation was so spotty), so I know what an uphill battle it can be, even when it really isn't, or doesn't have to be.  
Even though I agree with most of 'How to ask questions the smart way', it pains me that so much gets made of it, while 'How to answer questions the helpful way' gets short shrift in general practice.
IMHO, that section could use a little expansion.

-> $0.02

[barney]

Spot.
Fecking.
On.

As dedicated a Linux fan as I am, I will never hesitate to give an answer to a question honestly asked, and for those very reasons.  I DID RTFM, I DID STFW, and I STILL had to ask stupid questions, (as in, it was stupid I had to ask because the documentation was so spotty), so I know what an uphill battle it can be, even when it really isn't, or doesn't have to be. 
Even though I agree with most of 'How to ask questions the smart way', it pains me that so much gets made of it, while 'How to answer questions the helpful way' gets short shrift in general practice, and that section could use a little expansion besides.

-> $0.02

-Edvard (July 30, 2012, 01:26 AM)

When I was active on Tek-Tips a decade or so ago - it was just getting started - I had one (1) overriding rule:  answer the question that was asked, if at all possible, then suggest alternatives if the question seemed to be a bit askew.  Got chastised for it, from a few other answerers, but mostly accolades from the folk who'd asked the question.

The chastisement is all too common in most forae  , and the accolades, should they happen, don't always make up for that.
(One (1) of the reasons I stay on DC ... the question asked usually gets an answer, or at least a resource ... and let us not forget the [frequent] times that the answer gets created on the spot    )

[wraith808]

Even though I agree with most of 'How to ask questions the smart way', it pains me that so much gets made of it, while 'How to answer questions the helpful way' gets short shrift in general practice.

-Edvard (July 30, 2012, 01:26 AM)

Good links!  Thanks for the info!  I do love the second point- and it's one of the reasons I come to DC with questions (and answers when I can)- Choose your forum carefully