John -
Gerald has a very good point that you may have missed.
To further emellish, turning people off to Java or Linux with impolite
messages raises the bar for adoption of both. From this, no one
benefits.
Common netiquitte calls for RTFM first. However, Gerald's point reminds
us of something more fundamental: the word netiquitte is derived in part
from "etiquette."
Good etiquette (and hence by extension netiquitte) demands a minimum
level of manners and politeness.
In Java parlance, netiquette extends etiquette and does not override the
base class' properties or methods.
Ignore the messages if you like. I hope that every once in a while,
some kind soul will point the newcomer to the information they need and
gently remind them to RTFM next time.
John Goerzen wrote:
>
> Gerald Gutierrez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> > I'm starting to get the feeling that many in this group are approaching
> > "when will 1.2 be out" messages with a very disheartening attitude that
> > will surely turn potential users off.
>
> Well let's see. Presumably to find out about the mailing list, they
> will have visited www.blackdown.org. At that website, there is a
> *prominent* link to the JDK 1.2 status. I don't see why there is a
> big right for them to bother the list with information that they could
> have easily looked up themselves (which is also contained in the list
> archives). Common netiquette has it that you RTFM first, then check
> the archives (or dejanews or whatever), and then finally ask on the
> list if you have a question. It saves everybody's time, including the
> person looking for an answer.
[snip]
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