[TAG] Linux for Dummies

[Benjamin A. Okopnik]

[cc'd to TAG ]

On Thu, Nov 18, 2004 at 09:19:24AM -0500, Melanie Hill wrote:
> Dear Mr. Richard Bach
 
That would be "Dear Mr. Ben Okopnik", Melanie; the signature of the
person sending the email is usually at the bottom. The name following a
quote is usually called an attribution, and refers to the person being
quoted.

> To answer your first "smart" question, I was simply "probing" your
> website, to see what kind of response Id get.

And in response to your poor phrasing and your nearly-unparseable
"request", you got "probed" back. I note, from your appended comment,
that you didn't enjoy it; if so, I can only suggest that you correct
your behavior if you want different results. "Probing" is not a polite
communication technique in any form of etiquette of which I'm aware.

Your attitude has also caused you to read something into my response
which wasn't there when I wrote it: you assumed that you were being put 
down when in fact you were being given the best advice for the
situation. [shrug] Your choice; your problem. You're welcome to keep
your ignorance, and you'll receive no further help from me.

> I know how to "use"
> Linux.  If that were the problem, I wouldn't be writing to the Answer
> Gang.  As a sales and marketing associate at Net Direct
> (www.netdirect.ca) I was wondering if anyone at the Linux Gazette would
> be kind enough to point me in the direction of a jargon-less article I
> could possibly peruse.

Since a) you failed to get your meaning across and b) the sender of the
communication is responsible for clarity, I invite you to consider your
own responsibility in the process.

> That then is my Question, "Are there any
> articles on Linux, existing in your database, that I, a normal being,
> could read?, and if there aren't, yes I am suggesting its something you
> could write about.  

Your definition of yourself as a "normal being" could also benefit from
clarification. If by "normal" you mean "unfamiliar with Linux" or
"unfamiliar with computers", this would make people who do have some
familiarity with these abnormal. This is not likely to be a useful
method of asking for help.

> Sincerely, 
> 
> Melanie Hill, and may I suggest you change your "How to ask smart
> Questions" to "I feel the need to put people down when I cant understand
> their Questions."  

You're welcome to get your back up in whatever way you like, and imagine
any slights you want. What you're not welcome to any longer is my
participation in the process.


* Ben Okopnik * okopnik.freeshell.org * Editor-in-Chief, Linux Gazette *
-*- See the Linux Gazette in its new home: <http://linuxgazette.net> -*-