At 05:54 PM 6/7/01 , Andrew Doran wrote:
>So, we can take it that you're volunteering to assist all of these people?
>
>That's great, admirable even, but please keep from wasting our bandwidth,
>time, disk space and brain cells with what amounts to spam and
>(incidentally) further moron bait.
>
>Andrew
> 

Andrew Doran <ad@interlude.eu.org> wrote:
> moron bait.
SHITE! That means I'm a moron, too.
Andrew


And now I must reply, ensuring that I am known as twice as big a
moron as anyone on this list! :)


But I will not be thrice a moron, this is definitely my last email on
the subject...

First: yes. In the three years I've been on this list, I try to point these
people in the right direction (but often some-one else beats me to it).
I usually cc: the list so that others know how I responded (and also
so that others doing similar searches will find replies indicating that
there is no help to be found here for such questions).

More importantly, there is no reason to degrade somebody who's
showing interest and initiative in attempting to fix their computer
problem. I assume that most, if not all, of the people that ask such
questions have never heard of an operating system that doesn't Crash
or Bite. These emails are opportunities to inform pro-active people of
OS choice. I can't imagine why anyone in the alternative-OS community
would think that the rules for First Contact include a swift, hard,
flaming punch in the face. Finding the light is easy if you have people
to show you the way. Unfortunately, there are many who would make
excellent converts but are not aware of the light. They will never find
their way out of the dark woods if those who know the path scare them
from it. Additionally, our cause is not helped if we gain a reputation as
abusive elitists. 

Sorry for continuing this thread, but I felt the need to explain why I
cc:'d the list on both occasions. If I receive a high number of (private) 
requests to not cc: the list on such replies in the future, then I will
refrain from doing so.

Sorry again for the waste of bandwidth...
Tim