If you don't want to take the time to be helpful and courteous - then DON'T. No one is forcing you to reply at all. Others who DO care to take the time and spend the effort will fill the gap.

But your argument about not having time won't hold water. You don't have time to be courteous. But you have time to make nicely formatted insulting posts. You have time to make formatted boxes around updates to wonder why no one likes the way you do things. But you don't have time to be polite. Gotcha.

Update: OK, sorry. I let my frustration get away from me a little bit.

merlyn, my intention was not to make you stop participating in the community. I don't think that was jc's intention, either. My intention was to show that in the interests of this community, it is best if we present the kindest, gentlest face possible to the new users of Perl. That doesn't mean that you, personally, must always be sweetness and light; if you don't have the time, we will understand. We can fill the gap. No one wants to force you to be nice. We simply ask that you not flame, nor criticize unless it is done in a positive manner.