Re: What makes a bad question?

[footpad]

Similarly, the "senior monks" (to borrow your phrase) need to make sure they're not trying to use PSI::ESP; until such time the module's actually released.

By which, I mean:

• One student's "homework" might be a transitioning programmer's first project.

• Not everyone has time to review 100,000 posts in a community before trying to find an answer to a question.

• FAQ's are fine, but only if you know they're there. Perhaps there's a reason people are asking those questions frequently?

• Everyone's a newbie at some time or other.

• Topicality can be context sensitive. For example, permissions are not a Perl problem, but if you're writing your first CGI program in Perl, "How do I use chmod?" may be an relevant question to ask.

• Some people really aren't aware that good software can be licensed and used for free.

• We call them "research skills" for a reason; they have to be learned.

Put a slightly different way, it's going to be easier for us to get people to believe that we are an open, accepting community if we treat them nicely while they're learning how the community works.

After all, we're the ones that (presumeably) know what we're doing.

--f

[demerphq]

PSI::ESP!

I knew Perl::Mindreader was the wrong title!

:-) Oh yeah, good points. Im glad a 'senior monk' decided to post em. I sorta felt like I shouldnt be telling you lot what to do...

Yves
--
You are not ready to use symrefs unless you already know why they are bad. -- tadmc (CLPM)

[footpad]

"Points matter not! Judge me by my points, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And, well you should not..."
with apologies to LucasFilm, Ltd.

And why not? If I'm wrong, I expect one of you to trout slap me as needed. Others have expressed similar views.

The point being that we are (generally) a team with a similar purpose. I personally welcome all honestly-meant suggestions, regardless of the source. (Trolls, of course, will be cheerfully ignored.)

So feel free to offer your ideas on what I or we should do. Just understand that I may (or may not) listen to them...but that's my own lookout. :-)

--f

[Fletch]

I don't know why, but the font Netscape was using to render that made it seem to read Pants matter not! Judge me by my pants, do you?.

There's possibly a deep message in that. Or I may just be too easily amused on Monday mornings . . . .

[demerphq]

Yeah I can see your point. I suppose in the situation of a senior monk I figure its better to /msg than to post. After all odds are they have the posting guidelines down pretty well, and if theyve chosen to ignore them for a reason who am I to publicly criticize? A private comment OTOH...

Despite my XP, I am a relative newbie and do not feel its appropriate to lecture my seniors. Debate them wholeheartedly is a different matter entirely.

Yves
--
You are not ready to use symrefs unless you already know why they are bad. -- tadmc (CLPM)