On Mon, 22 Feb 2010, Olin Lathrop wrote:

> Gaston Gagnon wrote:
> > Help should be offered graciously or not at all.
> 
> If you really believe that, then you'd better stay out of design reviews,
> especially when your design is being reviewed.
> 
> If you just withold any comment to a demanding ingrate on the list, then
> they won't know their attitude prevented getting more responses.  This is
> especially true since there always seem to be a few people here that can't
> help showing off they know the answer instead of restraining themselves to
> make the list a better place long term for all.  The OP may never know
> better responses could have been had.  By telling the OP that he's perceived
> as a jerk and why is actually doing him a favor, although he may not think
> that in the short term.

Olin, you are not doing anybody here any favours, not even yourself.

One doesn't need to be emotional when one is imparting information. 
Information IS information. It's value is not improved by pointing out how 
stupid the student is or how superior the teacher is.

You seem to feel that you have been singled out by the list admins. That 
your behaviour is reasonable. You can easily put this to the test. Simply 
join the list using a pseudonym and refrain from using your real name or 
company details. Then continue to behave as you always have and see how 
long you are allowed to stay on the list. I suspect you will be shown far 
less leniancy under your alias than you have been already as 'Olin'.

Why do you continue to pursue the piclist? I mean if you feel so hard done 
by by the admins, surely you would be far better off dumpping us and 
setting up your own mailing list or forum where you have absolute control.

>From what you say, I get the impression you are angry that people who do 
not know or care about what they are doing or produce should be profiting 
from your experience and hard work. I understand exactly how you feel. But 
there is no room for that here. This list is full of different people 
ranging greatly in experience and ability. If this list were open only to 
professionals who make their money solely on electronic components that 
they design and sell, then I would agree with your position 100%. I'd be 
standing beside you with a pitchfork in my hand :-) But it is not. It has 
a huge base of non-contributing members who are just onlookers, trying to 
learn. Once in a while one of these people starts to feel comfortable 
enough to stick his head above ground and ask a question. If you shoot him 
down in flames it doesn't help the rest. It makes them feel more nervous 
and scared of asking for help. So they go and buy books (some of them 
really really awful) or try learning from the web AND they sometimes end 
up getting even more confused because their source of information is 
wrong! Have a look on the web for simple circuits with LEDs in them 
sometime. You'll be amazed how many circuit diagrams have the LEDs shown 
the wrong way around!

I'm not going to ramble on about how I think you should behave. Instead I 
suggest that you consider who it is that forms the bulk of the subscribers 
to this list and what is it that this majority wants. If you want a 
professional no nonsence no newbe list then go set one up. I and many 
others on this list will probably join. But I suspect the majority will be 
happy with the way things are.

Friendly Regards
Sergio Masci
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