From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jun 21 14:08:33 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4643F16A4CE for ; Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:08:33 +0000 (GMT) Received: from smtp.ibctech.ca (shadow2.eagle.ca [209.167.16.38]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3761043D58 for ; Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:08:32 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from iaccounts@ibctech.ca) Received: (qmail 56133 invoked by uid 1003); 21 Jun 2004 14:07:38 -0000 Received: from iaccounts@ibctech.ca by smtp.ibctech.ca by uid 89 with qmail-scanner-1.20 (clamscan: 0.65. spamassassin: 2.60. Clear:RC:1(127.0.0.1):. Processed in 0.027737 secs); 21 Jun 2004 14:07:38 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO webmail.ibctech.ca) (127.0.0.1) by localhost.ibctech.ca with SMTP; 21 Jun 2004 14:07:38 -0000 Received: from 209.167.16.15 (SquirrelMail authenticated user steve@ibctech.ca) by webmail.ibctech.ca with HTTP; Mon, 21 Jun 2004 10:07:38 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <4678.209.167.16.15.1087826858.squirrel@webmail.ibctech.ca> In-Reply-To: <20040621092744.571f93db.wmoran@potentialtech.com> References: <006301c456d7$4fdc94f0$7200a8c0@c003179a><40D6D4DE.10609@zonnet.nl> <20040621092744.571f93db.wmoran@potentialtech.com> Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 10:07:38 -0400 (EDT) From: "Steve Bertrand" To: "Bill Moran" User-Agent: SquirrelMail/1.4.2 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 Importance: Normal cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Overly brief answers (was Re: Terminal Server) X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:08:33 -0000 > I'm curious as to whether this is only my opinion, or if others feel the > same > way. I hope this thread in no way leads to a flame war, but I think this is a good discussion. In no way would I like to bash or flame anyone, but users who receive responses like this (albeit in this particular question, 'yes' was technically a proper answer), I believe that the user (particularily newbs) could quickly become very frustrated and pushed away as they may see it as a quick and dirty response and feel their question in some way was 'silly'. Note that I believe that the only stupid question is the one that isn't asked, but even those questions that are trivial to some of us deserve some insight. We must look beyond our own knowledge and remember what it was like for us when we first began the FBSD journey and realize that single word responses are certainly not going to help. Personally when I respond to a question, I try to put myself in the shoes of the poster, and try to at least give a little insight or direction to the question as if I asked it myself. Although as someone has already said, these replies are likely attempts to quickly help the user, they often mislead and discourage them instead. It's great that everyone likes to help, but we all should remember the importance that substance is key to aiding each other. Just my .02. No offence intended, and no one is perfect, we can only try our best to help. sb