On 17/11/02 23:21 +0000, David Cantrell wrote: > If they're irrelevant I'll save time and space by not bothering to answer. > I don't feel that these questions, or the addenda provided by MBM are in the least bit irrelevant, and I would tend towards reading alex's title as unnecessarily self-depracating.
As a potential leader of London.pm, I would have hoped that you would apply a similar lenient reading to such postings, and do your best to accommodate the questioner. The worst criticism that I've ever seen levelled at london.pm is that the group has an image of being exclusive and unfriendly. Whether this accusation is fair or not, it is up to the group, and in particular its appointed leader to counter any such perceptions. I still remember keenly when I joined london.pm. I actually found the group by accident whilst browsing for some advice on a random, long-forgotten perl problem. I was a self-taught newbie perl programmer, with no real contact with other programmers. I have learnt an incredible amount by sitting and quietly watching this list, attending meets, both social and tech, and asking for advice and input occasionally. When I came to london.pm, I had no pre-conceptions, and over time found that I was prepared to deal with the slightly frosty air that sometimes permeates, because for every unhelpful bout of curmudgeonly mumbling, there were many valuable pieces of advice. If I hadn't persevered, I doubt I would have made some of the very good friends I have through this group, and I would probably still be toiling away in an extremely naive manner with perl. I think the single most important function of the group is to nurture its members, particularly new ones, and act as a community focus for them. We should be accommodating wherever it is even remotely possible. "I can't be bothered" is simply not good enough.
