in reply to On answering stupid questions

With vague questions, it's hard to know if an OP needs a simple pointer or step-by-step guidance. From what I've seen in my short time here is that both kinds of answers are often posted. That's got to be the best situation for the OP's but can of course be bothersome for the others. As this site seems to openly welcome Newbies (eg, Anonymonks and Novices can participate), there will always be those who won't RTFM, check the FAQs, follow the Tutorials or use Super Search before they post. One way to look at it is that if the OP's could do that, there'd be a lot less traffic on this site. ;-) [I'll probably to get trashed for that last quip.]

As a side note, it seems that there were several unfortunate comments in that thread. I was especially struck by the harsh way that moritz was treated by the OP. [One could imagine a misunderstanding earlier in the thread but that's not the point here.] It's a shame that anyone needs to be anything but polite but PM still seems to be a very open and friendly place. It's good that TIMTOWTDI when it comes to answering even the most vague of questions.

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Re^2: On answering stupid questions
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Jun 08, 2008 at 15:57 UTC
    I was especially struck by the harsh way that moritz was treated by the OP. One could imagine a misunderstanding earlier in the thread but that's not the point here.

    Is that so harsh? Having already questioned being given a vague and wrong answer, to the wrong question once, and having re-stated and clarified the question. To be given essentially the same vague and wrong answer a second time, is that response really so harsh?

    Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
    "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
    In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
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      Is that so harsh?

      Yes. Any personal attack on somebody who didn't give a wrong answer is too harsh.

      Actually I think that neither vague nor wrong answers are a sufficient reason for personal attacks at all. To me it doesn't matter if somebody else gave wrong answers in the mean time. You can easily see which postings belong to which user, at least if they were logged in. No need to confuse them, and no need to over-generalize.

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        How is questioning your twice demonstrated lack of understanding, "a personal attack"?

        If I question your ability to perform brain surgury a "personal attack"? Or simply a question?

        If you were a brain surgeon, you might choose to be offended by it. Even if you are were lousy brain surgeon.

        Surely, even you must recognise that you were a) answering the wrong question; b) giving a vague handwaving answer to the wrong question; c) giving the wrong answer to that wrong question. Twice!

        I think just your pride is hurt. You made a mistake. Admit it and move on. There was no personal attack in that thread.

        Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
        "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
        In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]
          A reply falls below the community's threshold of quality. You may see it by logging in.
      Is that so harsh?

      Guess it's all a matter of your point of view but the OP's reply of:

      Thanks, but I wait till someone who uderstands[sic] the purpose of hashes comes along and gives me the appropriate syntax.
      seemed harsh. Hard to explain without "I know it when I see it" but it just didn't seem appropriate from someone who was asking others for help. Good answer, bad answer, misunderstanding -- doesn't matter. It's fine to disagree, wonderful to disagree, but in my protected little world, it's best to remain civil.

      My comment was a bit OT and this reply deviates even further. I certainly don't want to debate etiquette or get into your dialog with moritz but it would have been rude ;-) of me not to answer your question (even if was meant rhetorically).

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