[Asterisk-Users] IRC Etiquette

[Chris A. Icide]

On 02:51 PM 7/26/2004, Jeremy McNamara wrote:
 >
 >In my book, respect is earned.  They can earn respect by asking informed
 >questions, but if the documentation is incorrect, what's the point?
 >

I've always wondered where this particular phrase came from.  I generally 
hear it used mostly in arenas where there is a subset of people who feel 
they are superior in some way to people not in their subset.  I think the 
fact that almost anyone can identify themselves with a subset of people in 
which they are superior to people outside of that subset.  However, does 
this give them the right to disrespect the other people?

I've always said 'disrespect is earned'.  I never was a follower of the 
earned philosophy.

Especially in the commercial environment, respect and treating your 
customers, vendors, suppliers, etc. with respect is nearly as important 
(and more so in the service field) as your product.  Digium sells product 
which relies upon software which is given away free of charge.  While 
Digium offers support to people who buy their hardware products, they 
definitely don't have the resources to provide the level of support needed 
for new users to begin using Asterisk.  Thus they rely upon the community 
to do so.  So actions taken by people who represent  the Asterisk product 
(whether it's via IRC, this mail list, or any other public venue sponsored 
by Digium) reflects upon Digium, and has a real effect upon tier commercial 
success.  So, I'm not at all surprised by Mark's request to actually 
respect people on the IRC (and on this list as well, I'm sure Mark would 
agree) regardless of the amount of time they have spent with Asterisk up to 
the point.  Sure, if they turn out to be obnoxious and disruptive, well, 
disrespect is earned I always say.

-Chris