On Wednesday 30 March 2005 10:57, Robert P. J. Day wrote: > On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, Thomas Cameron wrote: > > RDay - > > yes? > > ... > > > I have never had a problem reading top posted messages, HTML > > formatted messages, or messages with silly disclaimers. I know I'm > > not the sharpest tool in this particular shed. It surprises me that > > some people on this list who are obviously as or more intelligent > > than I am get so stirred up about it. And it saddens me when people > > on this list whom I respect on a technical level make rude comments > > and call names. > > > > I completely support gentle reminders when someone who is new to the list > > makes a mistake. > > > > But the hostility and rudeness just hurts the community. > > you're missing the point, and i've posted on this previously. on the > one hand, you have newcomers who, being newcomers, might post in HTML, > or top post, or something like that, and someone else will suggest > politely they not do that, and they say, "oh, sorry, i didn't know, i > won't do it again", and they stop doing it, and everyone's happy, and > we all get back to work. > > on the other hand, you have newcomers who, being newcomers, might post > in HTML, or top post, or something like that, and someone else will > suggest politely they not do that, and they say, "well, *that's* how > we do it where *i* come from! and i *like* doing it that way! and i > don't see why *i* have to change! and you should all get used to it > cuz *i'm* going to keep doing it!" > > and *those* people are assholes. and they're the ones who cause these > threads to go on and on and on ... > > if you bother to go back thru these threads, people are rarely > insulted for being newcomers. they're insulted for being dickheads. > > there's a difference. > > rday I have to say, you make a good point. I think that I've been able to progress my Linux skills over the past several years with much help from the community and I am grateful. However I think that if I had gone about my learning with an attitude as presented above I would not get very far. The benifits and courtesies of an open source community have to work in both directions.
