Ian Eiloart wrote: > > --On 25 April 2006 15:20:32 +0200 listrcv <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >>Marc Perkel wrote: >> >> >>>Comments like RTFM are neither polite or helpful. >> >>What's the consensus about quoting the documentation instead of pointing >>to it? >> >>Ah, this isn't related to your quoting the wiki, pls don't misunderstand >>me. I'm just curious if it would be considered appropriate quoting the >>docs rather than telling someone where he can find the answer. In any >>case, if you tell somebody where an answer could be found, it is the >>same as telling him to read the manual. > > > No, it isn't the same. "Read the manual" is completely unhelpful, unless
It is the same. Maybe I should have made myselfe clearer by pointing out that I don't assume a general RTM to be helpful. But quoting the manual or pointing to what otherwise would have been quoted both imply a rather specific answer that can be as helpful as any other likewise specific answer and still would be the same as requesting that the manual should be read. Of course, you can try to point out what the manual says in your own words, and it may be more helpful than the manual. But if a question is being asked that is already answered in the manual, isn't it more reasonable to point to the manual or quote it than inventing it anew? Then, if the person asking has trouble understanding the manual, he can ask again --- or could point out having trouble to understand the manual when asking. And isn't it especially reasonable to tell ppl to read the manual (in an appropriate way) when they ask unspecific questions (like 'How do I catch fish?')? Otherwise, you would need to ask like 'What kind of fish do you want to catch?' before you could answer. Such a question leaves you with anything to assume, like that the one asking maybe doesn't know that there's a manual available or that he doesn't know how to ask questions. You might very well point him to a manual explaining how to ask questions based on that assumption. I don't even see a good reason to consider an appropriate pointer to 'How to ask questions' impolite, unhelpful, unproductive and the like. Asking is actually something that can be learned, maybe even expected to have been learned --- even if only for the sake of politeness --- before asking questions about an MTA. GH -- ## List details at http://www.exim.org/mailman/listinfo/exim-users ## Exim details at http://www.exim.org/ ## Please use the Wiki with this list - http://www.exim.org/eximwiki/
