Re: RTFM, Newbies etc

When you do something for a while, it becomes easy to find information in the documentation. I don't see a problem with people asking simple questions. If you don't want to answer them, then don't. If you want to help, post a link to where to find the answers. If you look on asktom, tom posts a link to documented information. He gets alot of newbie questions.

The sql tuning questions get old, however, each person asking them is a newbie. How are they going to know what to do? They probably have a manager giving them a hard time to solve the problem. There is an author I used to like to read. I went on a forum one time and asked when the next book was coming out. There was a debate with over 100 posts trying to decide how big of an idiot I was for asking that question. I never went back to the forum.

How hard is it to sort the list by subject line in your mailbox? Just look at questions you are interested in.

• Original Message ----- From: Niall Litchfield To: oracle-l Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 3:31 PM Subject: RTFM, Newbies etc

  I do feel a little sad watching the whole RTFM/newbie thing. I guess its just something that lists go through from time to time. Some times they recover, other times they don't. A while back I did post some thoughts on dealing with apparent newbie questions ( http://www.niall.litchfield.dial.pipex.com/2005/09/oldie-hints-and-tips.html ). I won't repeat them here. I guess my advice really boils down to treating people with respect. RTFM doesn't do that - though variations of it (like which manual, or a link to the relevant docs) can. RTFM says "you're wasting my time and I think you are stupid". I wouldn't say that to anyone in one-to-one conversation, I don't see why it is acceptable in email. (unless you are 14, male and on a video games forum obviously)

  Splitting the list into two is I think also wrong, Lists are about sharing information, not classifying people as experts or newbies. Don't wish to respond to a waste of time then don't. Just please don't respond to them in order to tell them you're not talking to them.

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  Niall Litchfield
  Oracle DBA
  http://www.niall.litchfield.dial.pipex.com

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