Re^2: Belittling Beginners

[ig]

Ouch! but point taken. I almost didn't post my comment, because it is criticism of criticism. Perhaps, in a more perfect world, that would have caused it to annihilate itself, or me myself.

I am curious to know more and thereby perhaps understand and agree with how you see it become positive.

[Your Mother]

moritz is a really good hacker and his was the first reply of: even if embarrassing, that's just how I started. Others spoke up about the things you're talking about, don't harsh on the newbies. And the author came here, participated in the discussion, revised some code, got complemented on the new code, and welcomed by a couple of monks; including me.

I wish everyone would be friendly. I agree it makes a difference. Discussions about etiquette make me cringe though and generally seem to be covered by: "Never teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." I think about how things go in most other forums, technical ones included, and this place seems like paradise even with the occasional scrap.

[Gavin]

"this place seems like paradise even with the occasional scrap."

But it's all done in the best possible taste!

Seriously

From my own experience it is most often those that criticise and belittle the most, are the ones that are the least secure in their own knowledge and have an over inflated opinion of themselves.

[Argel]

The problem is that it could have gone the other way. We are lucky that instead of taking it personally he took it as a learning opportunity. But imo that is despite the harsh tone set by that thread. If anything we can probably thank ELISHEVA for changing the tone of that thread in 776334. But exhibiting bad behavior and assuming someone will offset it (or not caring that it happened to be offset) does in no way justify said bad behavior.

[Your Mother]

I know what you're saying and again I'm personally invested in being kind to strangers. This is a problem to me-

…justify said bad behavior.

It's behavior. It's participation. It's like anything else personal: a personal choice. In a free and open (source) world it doesn't need to be justified. Disparaging it as sub-standard is little different from disparaging code as sub-standard.

Down vote, respond directly, participate as you like, etc, but don't be surprised if your desire to force conformity or to force others to agree there is a need to push it is perceived as rude by someone else. Like me (who upvoted everything in this thread, I think, so don't take that as a --; it's a reminder that everything offends someone). Free exchange is more important than perfect agreement, harmony, or avoiding (non-fatal) tussles.