All:
I've brought up this topic before as gently as I can.
I do not subscribe to the general list at all as the far off topic
chatter and obnoxious personalities there were too much for me to take.
I freely offered to create and host a general purpose off-topic list
server to keep all the fruits and nuts in a pleasant and appropriate
home - no takers.
I subscribe to this list to both answer and post questions on topics
that have to do with Linux and open source software. As a professional
working in the field, the value of this forum and the people in it is
important to me.
My issue has to do with people using the forum and expertise within to
provide remedial-level unpaid education services on unending and
tangentially expanding topics. All of us working in the field have
acquired our knowledge through experience, extended higher education and
substantial effort. I find it somewhat annoying when people short
circuit this process to gain superficial knowledge (for no apparent
purpose other than idle curiosity) at the expense of the members of this
forum.
When I post a question it is because I have an immediate and important
issue to resolve. These issues are always attached to real world
situations where expert help can make a difference.
I would hate to lose the ability to pose questions to the people here
because they became tired of the role of free Coles Notes for the
Technically Fascinated.
Please note that the member who is generating the traffic is
unquestionably polite, earnest and honest in his efforts to learn. This
isn't an ad hominen attack - rather it is an effort to maintain focus
and purpose. If the member to whom I am speaking would make the effort
to publicly publish and share the knowledge freely given to him with
others (in the true spirit of open source) I could easily be convinced
to cease my objections. Create a wiki-style site. Help others as
people have helped you. Or stop asking.
--
Bill Strosberg