Re: Why we have FAQs [Re: Slightly puzzled]

[dastar@crl.com (Sam Ismail)]

Nathan Mates (nathan@visi.com) wrote:
: In article <324E1664.70C6@mc.net>, anomaly3@mc.net <anomaly3@mc.net> wrote:
: >I have been following this NG for a while, and the flames come and go. 
: >It is abnormal to have this many flames in a non-smut NG. 

:    I'm not sure what you're reading, but it may be solely moderated
: newsgroups, esoteric scientific ones, or something else. Some of the
: other real high-traffic newsgroups I read have far worse flame levels.

:    I encourage you to drop by rec.humor (90+% garbage, and not getting
: any lower), rec.games.video.sega (or the complimentary sony/nintendo
: ones), or rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5, monitor them for a week and say
: that the perpetual flames on them are abnormal. And if you're looking
: for flames, go to any .advocacy newsgroup-- all flames, zero content.

:    Without moderated newsgroups, lack of flames is a rarity on usenet.

Oh, so since, in your estimation, its nearly impossible to have a flameless
newsgroup without moderation, its ok to go medieval on someone and rip them
a new asshole each time they don't read the FAQ?

(Oh, I'm not flaming by the way)

: >The only 
: >thing that irritates me is for the 1000th+ time seeing someone being 
: >referred to the FAQ. I could care less about an FAQ. 

:    Funny, why do most newsgroups have them? Why are there entire
: machines (rtfm.mit.edu) for archiving them? Because they're a darn
: fine thing, and usenet at large has accepted them. If you've got a
: problem with FAQs, I suggest you take it up with the maintainers of
: the ~1000 FAQs in existence. 

Oh, so since, in your estimation, FAQs are an accepted form of information
dissemination for techno-dweebs on the Internet, it should also suffice
for the "clueless newbies" who came onto the internet to have a nice
online discussion because someone suggested they buy a modem and subscribe
to an ISP so that they can get free, *friendly* technical support on
Usenet newsgroups?  Silly them for ever being duped into such a scam.

(oh, but I'm not flaming, mind you.)

:    Let me quote from the FAQ on FAQs. [Yes, such a thing does exist :]

(Oh!  The FAQ of FAQs!  Excuse me while I go prepare my temple for worship.)

:    In other words, it's recommended usenet behavior to check for FAQs
: before posting. The newsgroup news.announce.newuser (which newbies
: SHOULD be subscribed to when they start news for the first time-- trn
: does so, other quality software does the same also) contains many
: usenet basics such as that. 

Oh, so since, in your estimation, everyone coming onto the internet for
the first time, even "clueless newbies" who may have never even used a
computer before (much less accessed "newsgroups") SHOULD know how to
use tin or trn or other archane internet tools, its ok to rip them
a new asshole as well?  Welcome to the Internet, America!

(oh, but of course I'm not flaming!)

:    If people were better educated before they posted FAQ questions,
: there'd be no need to educate them later. Why don't you campaign to
: the authors of non-quality newsreaders and ISPs to steer people in the
: right place sooner rather than later?

Oh, so since, in your estimation, it would be easy to educate these
"cluless newbies" so that they didn't bother us more mature, robust
internet POWER users, but taking the time to do so is not your
perogative, it is OK to rip them a new asshole?

(But oh man, I am *NOT* flaming!)

: >Besides, most 
: >people who get the infernal referral are newcomers who haven't the 
: >slightest idea where the FAQ is, or that it even exists. 

:    But afterwards, they do, as they should. And what is wrong with that?

Sure!  What's wrong with insulting and ridiculing someone who obviously
has NO idea what a total idiot he is for asking simple questions that can
be oh so EASILY answered if they would just read the fucking FAQ!  They
are practically screaming out for an ass reaming!

(But I am *NOT* flaming, man!  No heat coming from this direction at ALL!)

-- 
Sam
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