[OT] - [Asterisk-Users] Why should I answer a Newbie question, therethick!

[Andrew Kohlsmith]

On March 5, 2005 10:48 am, asterisk phones wrote:
> It's nice to see that some people think so highly of
> themselves and are above all others.  It's quite
> amusing to watch people like you give thinking so
> highly of yourself and so little of others.  In the
> spirit of Asterisk and Mark's organization-Digium, I
> certainly could understand why you aren't employed by
> them.  Maybe you should take a class on being positive
> and helpful, but again you maybe above all that, in
> your own mind, others don't think you are that hot,
> sorry to burst your bubble.

Blow it out yer arse; If you had a half a clue you'd see just how much I do 
try to help Asterisk, both on this list and on #asterisk.  I am generally a 
very helpful and positive person, but when it comes to OSS projects you 
better be making at least a half-assed attempt to help yourself or I'll 
attach a rate sheet to my reply, plain and simple.  I make (good) money off 
of people who choose to be ignorant, and I give the same service away for 
free to those who want to actually learn, since it benefits the community.

I specifically said that ignoring newbies is not an answer and you come back 
with this kind of retort?  I think it shows your inexperience not only with 
this particular OSS product, but with mailing lists and open source in 
general.  

It's a plain and obvious fact.  You ignore someone who needs clue and they get 
up in arms because "OSS/project X/whatever stinks" and "nobody will help me" 
and "I'm gonna go use $foo, because it's so much cooler."

I reread my reply (the one you wrote this tripe about) -- I can't see a single 
hint of my being "high on myself" -- I merely disagreed with you and gave 
reasons.  I'd even go as far as to say my reasoning is an excellent example 
of WHY you don't ignore newbies.  You're right, they *do* eventually go away, 
but the cloud of negativity they leave behind is like a lingering fart; it 
affects the entire community for quite some time, long after the offender has 
left.

As far as others thinking I'm hot -- no need to burst any bubbles, I let 
people speak for themselves and I personally live by the prison credo -- no 
matter how big and tough you think you are, there is always someone bigger 
and tougher.  I've got plenty of friends and acquaintences who think I'm 
quite helpful.  I've also got a couple acquaintences and enemies who think 
otherwise.  Obviously you fit into the latter.  Oh well, that's your choice.

-A.