On 16/09/2010 21:15, Olin Lathrop wrote:
> Michael Watterson wrote:
>> Unlike some, I don't think there are bad questions. There are stupid
>> answers though.
> That statement in itself is stupid.  According to you, one can give a
> idiotic answer but not ask a idiotic question!!?  Clearly that's absurd.
>
> Whether a question is bad or not can only be judged within its context.  =
A
> kid in second grade asking why the sky is blue is very different from a
> career astrophisicist asking the same thing.  However here on the PIClist=
 we
> have the PIClist itself as minimum context.  For example, if the followin=
g
> were the first post of a thread (meaning no other context than the framew=
ork
> of the PICList itself) then it would definitely be stupid:
>
>    Subject: pls hlp me!!!!!!! urgent!!!!!
>
>    how do i get the fringlestan signals out to the ethernet plz help
>    me now the project is do tomorrow i dont hav time to read the manual
>
> That's stupid on so many counts it's not worth bothering to list them.
>
>
> ********************************************************************
> Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, http://www.embedinc.com/products
> (978) 742-9014.  Gold level PIC consultants since 2000.
Of course there are bad questions and it's better if you want to *ask*=20
questions to learn how to ask properly.
But with your view  to *reading* the question (not asking) you will=20
constantly get upset.
With my outlook to answering or reading questions, I don't get upset by=20
the people asking the questions
* Maybe they don't know much
* Maybe they don't speek eglaise much
* Maybe I'm too stupid to understand.
* Maybe they really are stupid and are asking really badly.

But really stupid answers annoy me because how does the random=20
questioner tell the difference between the good answer of expert and the=20
rubbish answer (maybe dangerous) of person that thinks he expert. OTOH=20
really stupid questions can be ignored or left to someone with patience=20
or a flash of insight as to the meaning of the question.

You are expert. But make mistake of think that everyone looks at=20
problems and formulates questions differently. Actually you are so=20
expert the that you are out of practice asking questions, so are=20
uninterested in questioning the naive questioner, but only want to show=20
them how inadequate their question was.

Of course
"Unlike some, I don't think there are bad questions. There are stupid=20
answers though."
is an aphorism. I didn't invent it. It's hyperbole too to make people think=
..

The regulars on the list can't by definition control the questions asked=20
by newcomers. But we can control our response. All such lists develop=20
their own culture, nutured by the hand (and hats) of the Moderators. I=20
think they do a good job here.

It's easier to make fun of a badly worded question than answer it, or=20
sometimes better say nothing.

If the topic / subject tag is wrong or question is plain pointless, I'm=20
happy most of the time to leave it up to people that courteously and=20
efficiently point that out.
It doesn't warrant hysterics.

--=20
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