Leslie Satenstein wrote: > I have been in IT for 40 years, and in that time I learned a lesson or two. > > a) Respect the other person. He is entitled to different ideas. > > b) I was once a beginner with lots to learn, and with only a fixed > number of hours in the day. Respect me if you recognize the fact that I > may not know all the answers. The same applies for your peers. What do you propose be done with people that claim they know *much* more than they actually do? > > c) I have no exclusivity on intelligence. I learn from everyone. > > d) Questions that appear stupid to you, or where the user should have > thought of searching for the answer which is buried in some manual, > should not have you admonish that user. We are all trying our best. > > e) Software authors write for joy, many put their heart and soul into > their work, and therefore, think about criticism before issuing some. > If you have to, couch your criticism in postive ways, such as "While > using your software under condition xyz, it generated the following > problem xxxx, is it possible that this possibility was not envisioned in > your initial design? > > f) Finally, ask yourself if you would like to receive the criticism that > you would deliver. > > So, please, help the beginners, and if some software is malfunctioning, > try to find the reason, and with kind words, contact the author. You > wil get more using an approach with honey than one with vinegar. > > Leslie Satenstein > MSC mathematics, > Capacity Planning and Computer system modeling, > Hardware logic circuit designer > Compiler designer, interpreter designer, > ERP specialist, Project Manager, > 40 years of writing and supporting software. > Teacher and now, linux hobbist. > -- Life would be so much easier if we could just look at the source code. -- Dave Olson
