++ tye...I couldn't agree more.

Deleting nodes might have a satisfying affect for those offended by them but they leave holes in the record of what occurs here, in this case a homework node that get's a bunch of "we won't do your homework" replies serves a better example for future monks than does a reaped node.

Is the thinking something like: "He didn't show any effort. If we delete it, that will discourage such things."?

My thinking is that if we leave a node as brazen as this one and someone does answer it, that will encourage similar postings.

Besides, I really doubt that someone who is too lazy to even attempt to disguise their homework before posting it is going to search the site first to see how the local culture might respond to their request...

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";

"He didn't show any effort. If we delete it, that will discourage such things."?

Personally Ive written the kind of "theres a better way to ask your question" posts many times. No doubt you have too. We all know monks who on one occasion or another have. But have those posts discouraged such things? A little perhaps, but not much IMO. The only people who know about them are the ones that have done some digging, and they arent likey to do such things in the first place. So for me I tend not to write such nodes anymore.

Now on the other hand there are newer younger monks who are learning, if one of them wants to advise a hapless colleague on how to reap the benefits of the Monastery then fine. And I personally (and feel in general saints should) reserve -- and deletion votes for extreme situations beyond HW, but I dont shed a tear when a really HW type question bites the dust.

I think that a little effort by the pmdevils (and I know I speak more than I act :-) to put some better links and warnings about writing nodes on the creation point (especially for novices) would make a much better contribution to dealing with this problem than dealing with each in turn with a helping hand. As I said earlier theres lots of good nodes on writing nodes in the archives, in both root node and reply form. Why dont we dig some out and reuse them? Then if a node gets deleted at least people were already warned.

Just my $0.02

I have very much the opposite view. I mean let's analyze this rationally.

1. What are the chances that the homework is posted Anonymously or by a completly new user. Pretty Damn Good. This person has not spent any time here, they don't know how the community functions. They don't bother lurking and realizing that it isn't nice to post homework here.
2. What are the chances that this person has searched the site for a solution.Nil, they are lazy, their homework is due in the next 24-48 and they don't have time to do it themselves, that's why they posted it.
3. What are the chances that this person is going to stay on and participate in our community once they received 100 replies to the effect of "We don't do homework. You suck". or worse, if an overly-eager monk actually completes their work for them Not bloody likely. They will leave with a bad taste in their mouth or with their homework done. They will either think we are snobs or simply ensure they post their next assignment here. Because they know that if they weather the storm of flames they will get one sucker who posts the code for them.

Now I realize that this community is very open and accepting. I enjoy the help I have received and I enjoy contributing. But I don't believe leaving the homework nodes intact with 20 replies all stating "we don't do homework" in a variety of facetious ways is going to get the message out. While it deters that single user and annoys a lot of monks, it will do nothing to deter future homework posters as they are typically new to the site and don't really care about community etiquette. Just about getting their homework done. Erasing the node deters the mis-guided user and annoys a lot less monks. And when somebody new comes around to post more homework? We'll just have to deal with them then.

Later