On 6/28/06 23:23, "Ron Wagner" <email@hidden> wrote:
> Being told to read the documentation will not insult most people,
> including school teachers who act as sysadmins. Being told to RTFM
> sends out the attitude and tone of what it literally says (look up
> RTFM with the Mac OS X dictionary), while extending your middle
> finger. Why not just tell them to RTM instead of RTFM? How would you
> like to go to your doctor and have him tell you to take these pills,
> then have him tell you to RTFM if you ask what they are for. Geez,
> what are you doing, trying to be a doctor? No, this may not be the
> greatest analogy, but hopefully the point will come across as
> intended. Do the people who tell everyone to RTFM go around their
> offices telling people the same thing when asked a question face to
> face? Email tends to make people a little braver and a little less
> human.
You're right. We could choose to do the minimum, which is nothing. Oh wait,
no, that doesn't work. Then the "OMGANSWERME" emails come. And we're mean
for that.
You can chose to have F mean whatever you wish. The middle finger in this
case is your interpretation, and honestly, if you get offended that easily,
I recommend avoiding the Internet. Seriously.
Oh, and yes, I have been told that telling someone to read the docs and do a
google search is being an ass, even when the infamous "F" never hits the
picture. So no matter what, someone's going to have a hurt feeling, and I
just stopped caring, because there's no reward for going out of my way to be
nice.
> When people such as school teachers or other non-professional
> sysadmins ask questions, they just want to solve their problem. They
> are told to RTFM and belittled in other ways with unhelpful little
> quips, usually not getting a helpful answer. What often happens is
> people back channel each other with real answers, and the answers
> never make it to the list to be shared or archived. Nothing is gained
> by operating this way.
You know, I can remember quite a few teachers telling me, and none too
nicely, that if I just used that lump between my ears, and oh, read the text
book, I could stop asking so many questions. Note the "lump" bit is a direct
quote.
And I wasn't asking said teacher for free advice and help, then getting
pissy about the answer.
>
> Anyone ever learn the "golden rule" as children? How about we start
> treating each other with respect. If you know where the poster can
> read about something, give them an idea where to read instead of just
> saying RTFM, or don't say anything at all.
That's an OUTSTANDING idea. How much help will a stony silence give.
> People ask about how
> something works, explain it or don't say anything at all. People want
> to know how to troubleshoot something, throw them some genuinely
> useful ideas, or don't say anything at all. Want to tell someone to
> RTFM, lower your middle finger and tell them to RTM, stating which
> one and maybe a clue as to where in the manual if appropriate. No,
> exact page and paragraph isn't necessary.
Your self-esteem? Your problem. My self-esteem? My problem. You want to get
offended by RTFM, that's your issue. It's a good acronym.
>
> Sure there will be exceptions where the poster will want an
> unrealistic level of help through the list, and may even be a school
> teacher. Just ignore the question. There is no need to respond to
> every question. Let someone else field the question who is more
> willing. If you don't have anything nice or constructive to say,
> please just don't say anything and let it go.
The same can be said for lecturing people about manners.
--
John C. Welch Writer/Analyst
Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions
email@hidden
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