From spencer.graves at structuremonitoring.com  Fri Aug 20 02:08:11 2010
From: spencer.graves at structuremonitoring.com (Spencer Graves)
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:08:11 -0700
Subject: [Rd] No RTFM?
Message-ID: <4C6DC76B.7000303@structuremonitoring.com>

  What do you think about adding a "No RTFM" policy to the R mailing 
lists? Per, "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM":


The Ubuntu Forums and LinuxQuestions.org, for instance, have instituted 
"no RTFM" policies to promote a welcoming atmosphere.[8][9].

RTFM [and] "Go look on google" are two inappropriate responses to a 
question. If you don't know the answer or don't wish to help, please say 
nothing instead of brushing off someone's question. Politely showing 
someone how you searched or obtained the answer to a question is 
acceptable, even encouraged.
...

If you wish to remind a user to use search tools or other resources when 
they have asked a question you feel is basic or common, please be very 
polite. Any replies for help that contain language disrespectful towards 
the user asking the question, i.e. "STFU" or "RTFM" are unacceptable and 
will not be tolerated. ?Ubuntu Forums


Gavin Simpson and I recently provided examples answering a question from 
"r.ookie" that had previously elicited responses, ""You want us to read 
the help page to you?" and "It yet again appears that you are asking us 
to read the help pages for you."


I can appreciate the sentiment in fortunes('rtfm'). In this case, 
however, "r.ookie" had RTFM (and said so), but evidently the manual was 
not sufficiently clear.


Best Wishes,
Spencer Graves



[Rd] No RTFM?
Spencer Graves