First off, to the AM: add use strict; to this and every script you write (assuming you aren't stuck with some ancient Perl 4 install) -- you will catch some errors that way.
Rass, this is clearly labelled home work (this time at least), which is honest. This person didn't simply copy their assignment into a node and ask the Monks to write the script, they gave a sample of their buggy code and asked for assistance. The responses don't provide corrected scripts, they provide small bits, direction and hints. Let's not label every AM a troll who hasn't quite gotten the hang of the PM interface and accidentally resubmits questions, or resubmits after he/she sees that his/her question has disappeared because it was reaped. Of course, I missed the entire CB discussion on this (some monks even browse the site with CB turned off), so maybe I'm out of line, but this SOPW looks fairly legitimate to me. | [reply]
[d/l] |
Does "homework" mean intrinsically that we offer NO help?
Ever? Not even when the user has made a reasonable attempt
and simply has some syntax errors? This is a very different
situation from the usual, because (a) the submitter admits
that it's homework and (b) he has made a good-faith effort
to solve it. He just need some help with the basic syntax,
that's all.
If we aren't supposed to be fixing syntax errors in code
samples in the SOPW section, then
why are we answering any questions at all?
If you don't wan't to help, I won't criticize. But if
I want to help fix someone's code after he's made a
good effort, then kindly back off.
Update: I should also point out that this isn't a case
where "the same question is being asked over and over".
This is a specific code example with a question about
why it won't run. That's different.
Final Update: (Since I don't intend to carry on
about this ad infinitum) First, I'll mention that even at this
time, the top-level node has NOT been considered
for deletion. Perhaps your views are not as widespread as
you seem to believe.
Second, at the time I responded there
had already been a response so mine didn't make much
difference to the Reaper.
Third, your reply below points to a different
node, presumably by a different AM
(After all, the user's approach
to the problem is quite different), so don't hold it
against this thread. That's it, I'm done.
buckaduck | [reply] |