Re: about coders, docs and users
(Cc: mutt-users with permission)
=- Patrick Shanahan wrote on Fri 18.Aug'06 at 21:59:41 -0400 -=
> I am too impulsive, too quick to answer. -- my feeling --
I got that, but you mean when it comes to answering mutt config
issues generally or rather talking about mutt (dev) policy, like
in this thread?
I haven't noticed that you answer often, so it can't be
"too quick". ;)
("often" is subjective, so doesn't mean much, do as you see fit)
(mutt-users: this applies to many of you, too ;)
> > Other helpers are more tolerant, so I let them answer those
> > that I think should be solved by rtfm. ;)
>
> I am too quick to point to the relevant area of the manual or to
> suggest an area to research rather than giving an outright solution.
How can you be "too quick" on _this kind of_ reaction?
Of course people can ask for more, like explicit copy&paste
solution, but they should be happy with any response given as long
as it is not wrong and helps them get closer to the solution, so
they can complete it on their own.
I wonder why you feel "wrong" about it and talk to me, since I
consider myself as the #1 "RTFM" yeller around. I can only
encourage you to continue this way. :)
What makes me _different_ though is that I know that the yelling is
unfair at times, because TFM is lacking, can be improved _a lot_.
So, besides just blaming the poor lusers to rtfm more (which
certainly would help already now), I _even more_ blame mutt-dev
for leaving the newsers in this ugly situation that "RTFM" doesn't
always/ often help so much!
Mutt could be a lot better tool for a lot more people
with better docs. Mutt-dev should treat it equally to code, now
that the features work quite fine (except for minor bugs).
> I feel that the solution becomes expected rather than effort
> being expended to arrive there.
So what? That's the point of docs: to be read.
Please, see MuttChannel again, neither #mutt nor ML is a paid for
service- line where they have the right for an instant on the
point solution.
If they want that, they should pay a customer service. If they
don't want to take your help, let them wait for somebody else
"more friendly". There are enough out there who like to spoon-feed
people, so let them do. Fortunately for us there are enough who
appreciate explicit pointer where to find stuff in TFM.
But again, even this wouldn't be necessary as often if TFM were
better.
> just showing my age. I remember when _most_ nuby's were called
> aolers :^)
Well, I was around at this time, too, but luckily I haven't met
many of those aol'ers myself. :)
> I feel that topics which do not relate directly to usage or
> function are best kept off-list.
> Althouth, I believe that our conversation would be beneficial to
> the newer general list users, it is more about feelings and/or
> opinion that mutt function and usage.
General (lack of) support (which includes docs and how to use
them) belongs here, too, since docs are part of usage and
mutt-users are those who have to deal with/ suffer from it, and
mutt is made for the users, isn't it?!
> good chatting with you.
Ditto.
--
© Rado S. -- You must provide YOUR effort for your goal!
Even if it seems insignificant, in fact EVERY effort counts
for a shared task, at least to show your deserving attitude.