[R] draft of posting guide

[Frank E Harrell Jr]

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 20:32:15 +0100
"Wolski" <wolski at molgen.mpg.de> wrote:

> Hi!
> 
> The guide are in my opinion much to long. 
> If someone posts a question to the mailing list its because he likes to
> get a answer (fast?). The "Introduction" proposed by Peter Flom and the
> "Homework before posting" section will do it in my opinion. The part:
> "Homework before posting a question. " is enough.
> It may be better to call it:
> "How to find answers to urgent questions"
> 
> 
> All this "stuff" about how to behave, and ask questions is superfluous
> in my opinion.  If you don't understand the question don't answer. If
> you don't have time to answer don't do it. If you don't understand the
> answers look for it somewhere else. If someone is rude on the mailing
> list I can ignore him. If I do not like answers from someone  I simply
> don't open the mails (Or put him into the spam filter if you are
> paranoic). If I don't like questions from someone I do the same. Its not
> public traffic, the underground, or the street, where you can't avoid
> contact with the smoke if someone are smoking ore where you have to
> leave the train if someone stinks or where you have to fight if someone
> is attacking someone else. 
> 
> 
> I am very happy and I like the R-help list how it is.
> 
> So, Merry Christmas to all of you!
> 
> 
> Eryk

These sentiments do not take into account the time required to determine
that I shouldn't answer someone's e-mail, nor does it consider that with
some prompting, new users can ask questions better.

Frank


---
Frank E Harrell Jr   Professor and Chair           School of Medicine
                     Department of Biostatistics   Vanderbilt University