1. No one should expect help if they don't at lease show that they have put a little effort into the solution. This does not mean that they have to post code! They can just as easly talk through the steps and write about what part confuses them

2. Everyone should get some amount of help if you can give it. If may be as simlpe as "Google XML::Simple"

3. For HW questions. There is nothing wrong with leading a student to the right answer. But you should never give it up front. Give them a little thread, then ask them to think about it and post the code then come up with. Then give them a little more and have them repost the code. Wash and repeat until their light goes on.

For student who are up front about the fact that it's HW. Insure they would pass the next quiz they may get on the subject by making sure they understand the concept too.

One thing that people forget is that school is not always about learning about subject X. It is just as much about learing how to think and do research. Think about what you knew when you graduated from school. It was probably alot, but you probably learned 3X more once you started working. Knowing how to get help and how to learn from the help you recieve is a valuble lesson.