> > You've read our policy so you would probably complain in private email
> > to either the concerned parties or to piclist-owner.

> > Definitely you wouldn't start a public flamewar, because that is not
> > allowed.

> That's dodging the question Bob. You defended the 'rtfm ban' by noting
> that it often starts a flame war. I wanted to show the ridicule of that
> line of reasoning.

I'm puzzled and somewhat perturbed by Wouter's line of thought.

I assume that you understand that it is the specific term "RTFM" that is at
the core of this discussion and not the concept that it embodies. (It's
possible to have this sort of conversation with that NOT obvious so I need
to note it).

I assume as of right that your (Wouter's) vocabulary either in English or
Dutch or whatever is not so limited that you consider there is no linguistic
option or synonym to using the actual phrase RTFM

I assume that, while the copulation synonym, whatever it may be in Dutch or
whatever, is common enough in many walks of life that you pass through (as
it is in mine) , you probably don't use it very often to get abrupt
attention in social, business or work settings. eg in  a lecture situation,
I assume, perhaps incorrectly, that RTFM's F probably doesn't feature no
matter how stupid a student's question. Quite possibly something with a bit
less reasonably incidental baggage is used, and that's the primary aim here.

That's NOT an encouragement to find creative alternatives - the word is
really quite unimportant apart from the result it has often enough for it to
be better avoided.

In the mind of enough people that it matters it can parse as eg
"Read the manual you drivelling loser". /
Didn't your mommy tell you not to play with the big boys until you had dome
your homework /
Idiots like you don't belong here - shape up or shape out.
etc

Some will, of course, argue that this is utter rubbish and that nobody sees
it that way.
Others will use it on purpose BECAUSE of this effect.
Some do both the above at once.
Some argue that people who can't stand being called drivelling losers (or
interpreting the term that way) without reacting adversely are not worthy of
being on this list.

So ...

    RM
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