From: david thompson (david@123four.fsnet.co.uk)
Date: Mon May 13 2002 - 06:00:36 EDT
hi
I seem to have got some points wrong, or at least one which produced
another error - namely that I did not realise that every posting to this
forum is open. So to the person-developer who flamed me regarding my
crit. of finding this file or making it accessible I apologise. I
apologise for writing about a sneeky attack etc.
But I do not take back what was written about the lack of accessibility,
and that files should be linked too.
Incidentally, I have read in a magazine this weekend that it is
something of a sport for those who have spent years with linux to flame
newbies,(Linux format, May 2002, page 7). Check out the attachment.
I still have not found the file but presume somebody must have it.
Ever try to get help when you're new to Linux? You're most likely to be told to RTFM, or "Read The F***ing Manual" - ignoring, of course, the abysmal state of Linux documentation.
Case in point: I was curious as to why a series of two dashes appeared before my sig when I used KMail and, sure enough, an answer was in the KMail FAQ accessable from the Help menu: 6.11 My signature has two dashes above it. This makes me very sad.
Separating the signature from the message body with two dashes and a space is a common and useful kind of standard. If you have strong feelings about this I suggest you modify the KMail source to remove that line.
And this answer made me very sad. The phrasing of the question ridicules the questioner. And it is a convention, not a standard; being found in no RFC, just a comment on changes to the RFC. The last part of the answer given to a newbie tells them they are out of luck since it's likely that they have not yet acquired the skills to modify any source code.
The attitude behind this FAQ response is a part of Linux culture whose time has past. Codified by a Richard Stallman essay on how to ask questions, it is an arrogance on the part of those insiders who have fought the gritty battle to learn all things Linux, it's an artifact of the hacker culture - bullying and ridicule are equated to "tough love," and being a smartass to "clueless newbies" is a sport whose pursuit is highly prized.
I have a message for Dick and his buddies: Times have changed. Grow up. Lose the hooligan attitude. I have submitted a change to the KMail FAQ that provides a respectful, accurate and informative answer. I have vowed never again to bully eager new learners with RTFM.
Hoyt Duff, LXF27 May 2002.
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