But, I never feel that I contribute significantly to any of these Perl communities
With this post you proove the contrary, by saying what a lot of newbies think you help them to become more self confident...

I solve nearly all my problems my own way, in my own time.
So what ? TIMTOWTDI !!
As long as you learn and that you are aware that some other ways exist and may be faster/more elegant...

I always feel (and am proven right) that my answer to a question is never the best. And within hours (or even minutes) somebody else has responded with a better more complete answer. So mine is never really needed.
Don't think in term of 'better' answer, but rather in term of 'appropriate level' of answer.
I mean some higly technical/detailed answer may drown/scare someone whereas your may be more appropriate to his level...
Anyway even if you gave a wrong answer, what's the problem as long as you learn from it...You may even give the opportunity to others to learn when you'll be corrected.
Is that such a big deal, giving the 'best answer' ?

So; all my questions have been answered before; none of my answers would be original or as useful as the next person's
But you may help other (experienced) monks tired of saying the same thing.
You heard it thousand times ! say it a thousand times :

• Use strict and warnings
• Use CPAN and the already mademodules whenever possible.
• Use CGI.pm instead of building another security hole...
• Point to the right ressources (perldoc, man pages, good nodes)...
• It's in a WT collumns...
• Don't try to match an email with a 2 lines regex...
• ...

Just go on learning, teaching (at your level).
I can't count the number of stupidity I've said/made but it won't stop me
As long as you find it pleasant LEARN, TEACH AND IMPROVE...


"Only Bad Coders Code Badly In Perl" (OBC2BIP)