on Thu, Nov 29, 2001 at 10:46:15PM -0400, cmasters (cmasters@despamnbnet.nb.ca) wrote:
> Greetings all,
>
> My recent difficulties with printer and mail setup have led to to the
> point where I simply must express my thoughts on "RTFM".
>
> 1. I'm beginning that this should be the credo to linux use. Which
> would be fine if reading the "fine" manual didn't imply previous
> knowledge of the OS or app that one is reading on
This depends on how RTFM is used.
My own invocation of the incantation is a shorthand of the longer
phrase:
The information you seek is documented. It's part of the standard
document set which should have been included on your system, and is
certainly available for installation if you select the proper
packages (ping back for more information). Recognizing that the
documentation is voluminous, and not immediately accessible to
newcomers, I'll even provide you with a pointer to the proper page.
Please read the information contained therein, and report back to
the list if you have further questions.
The documents you seek are XXX.
It's a lot easier to just write:
RTFM XXX
...where XXX is the page in question.
The "naked RTFM" is neither helpful nor encouraged. Criticising its use
is fully merited.
In the immortal words of a former roommate of mine, Dave (not to be
confused with my other roommate at the time, Dave, or his friend Dave,
or Dave's friend Dave, a prior roommate Dave, or two subsequent
roommates named "Dave", or (back to the Dave in question) Dave's friend
Dave who called one time asking if Dave was in, requiring me to ask
Dave's friend Dave if he knew, and resulting in my response, "Dave, I'm
sorry, but Dave's friend Dave says Dave's not here right now[1]". This was
understood perfectly), concerning the location of some household item:
You're an adult. Look for it.
That's right. GNU/Linux is an OS for mature adults. Note that that's
"mature adults", not "smug asspricks". Post here indicating you're
having trouble, clues will be distributed. Follow up with "OK, I tried
that, and it didn't work", with appropriate documentation of _exact
commands tried_ and _exact error messages or diagnostics received_, and
you'll likely get more assistance. However, RTFM, RTFS, and STFW
(search the fine web) are perfectly acceptable responses.
> 2. Here's an appropriate analogy:
>
> I've decided to learn .... Hebrew, after some research, I find an
> instructor (eg a mailing list) and am given directions to download a
> complete list of standard vocabulary, syntax, sentence structure, and
> other tools necessary to learn this new language. I begin to read
> these documents, only to discover within the first page, that it has
> been written from the point of someone ~raised~ with Hebrew.
If this is what your instructor is telling you, s/he's a smug assprick.
The proper thing for the instructor to do is to _serve as a guide
through the wilderness_. Just dumping a bunch of data on your lap is
not teaching or guidance. A syllabus and/or study guide would be
minimum expectations.
<...>
> Do you see. No-one can possible be expected to ~read for
> comprehension~ a manual that has ~not~ been written with a ~complete~
> newbie in mind.
No, but you should be pointed to appropriate texts for getting started.
<...>
> In a previous response to email regarding my ongoing email problems, I
> made reference to the Mutt manual. Section 6.3 Configuration Variable
> is chock full of all kinds of variable that can be invoked through
> command line or the config file. The author(s) forgot to include any
> ~in context~ examples or to identify which of these variables requires
> the #$% ~set~ prefix.
This is a frequent failing of GNU/Linux and UNIX documentation.
Manpages without examples should be considered bugs. You have my
sympathies here.
In the meantime, it's appropriate to post a statement "I researched foo
in the Mutt docs and don't know the proper syntax to be used to set the
value(s) specified".
Peace.
----------------------------------------
Notes:
1. Yes, that's the absolute truth. I'm glad I'm named Karsten.
--
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand? Home of the brave
http://gestalt-system.sourceforge.net/ Land of the free
Free Dmitry! Boycott Adobe! Repeal the DMCA! http://www.freesklyarov.org
Geek for Hire http://kmself.home.netcom.com/resume.html
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