in reply to So it's homework - so what?
I can see absolutely where everyone who finds "homework" qs irritating is coming from. Frankly I don't feel entitled to that kind of irritation myself, as I probably wouldn't be able to do the homework if it was set me; but I think it's fair to want questioners to work a little harder.
On the other hand - two things.
Thing one: Tachyon rightly says that one of the virtues of PM is that we're helpful. I'd go so far as to say one of our virtues (a rare one on the net) is that we're polite and kind. That's a good thing, and worth making some modest sacrifices to preserve. (Though I also agree that communities need their irrational taboos!).
Thing two: don't forget the value to posterity of a thread answering an obvious question in an interesting way. We are building up the most tremendous resource of overheard Socratic dialogues on every aspect of perl. Leaving aside the immortal soul of the questioner, which may well be in peril, isn't it sometimes worth giving a good answer anyway, for the benefit of future generations? Then there's even more on SuperSearch, and we can be even more irritated that someone didn't look for it. :)
§ George Sherston
On the other hand - two things.
Thing one: Tachyon rightly says that one of the virtues of PM is that we're helpful. I'd go so far as to say one of our virtues (a rare one on the net) is that we're polite and kind. That's a good thing, and worth making some modest sacrifices to preserve. (Though I also agree that communities need their irrational taboos!).
Thing two: don't forget the value to posterity of a thread answering an obvious question in an interesting way. We are building up the most tremendous resource of overheard Socratic dialogues on every aspect of perl. Leaving aside the immortal soul of the questioner, which may well be in peril, isn't it sometimes worth giving a good answer anyway, for the benefit of future generations? Then there's even more on SuperSearch, and we can be even more irritated that someone didn't look for it. :)
§ George Sherston
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