On Thursday 03 January 2008, Leslie Satenstein wrote: > I have been in IT for 40 years, and in that time I learned a lesson or two. [snip excellent advice] > f) Finally, ask yourself if you would like to receive the criticism that > you would deliver. While my message to Karl might have seemed a tad harsh (and, to a degree it was), I can't help but get bent out of shape when an esteemed member of the Fedora project is essentially called stupid. As to your point f, I would say plainly that, if I were to so seriously put my foot in my mouth as to call a core developer of a project I use 'stupid' I would expect to get a good chewing-out. And, for that matter, I would want to get a good public on-list flame or two, as I would need to be straightened out, because I certainly know that there are many things I don't know, and there are things I will never know, because there are just so many things to know. > 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. In most cases this is true. There are exceptions where there is no honey sweet enough to get a positive response when you're pointing out a bug or other error, from users or developers. But you're right; civility should be maintained. If I failed in maintaining a civil manner in my reply to Karl, my apologies, as it was intended to be civil, yet firm. -- Lamar Owen Chief Information Officer Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute 1 PARI Drive Rosman, NC 28772 (828)862-5554 www.pari.edu
