[DGD] List etiquette

[Felix A. Croes]

Robert,


1.

> Or you could exercise your right not to answer my question. By asking here 
> I'm saving time. The alternative is to search the mailing list archives 
> which would usually take longer, and I don't have the foresight to know 
> whether what is in the mailing list archives will answer my question 
> satisfactorily, or even at all. I don't need to respect other peoples time 
> if they already respect their own time by only replying when they can afford 
> to and want to. I respect my time by asking questions on the list.

Clearly we cannot be motivated by the same thing as you are.  We would
best save our time by answering none of your questions.  So the issue
is not your time versus ours, but your time versus whatever makes us
answer.

And you are not saving your time either, because you have been spending
it inefficiently.  If there is anyone who can be said to save your time,
it is those who respond to your questions -- both with direct answers
and with suggestions on how to spend it more effectively.


2.

>>Before you bring a question to the list, make sure you've 
>>tested the more obvious things yourself first. Before you write follow-up 
>>questions, make sure you've actually bothered to read and assimilate the 
>>answers that were already given.
>
> I don't know what makes you think I haven't been doing that. If I have given 
> that impression it is probably a matter of timing (i.e. I send off a reply 
> after someone else has that I haven't yet read).

When you respond to a posting, that makes me think that you have read
it.  When you respond with something at variance with what the posting
actually says, or which does not take in a posting ealier in the same
exchange, that makes me think that you have not read it thoroughly.
This you do often.  

I don't care to be thanked, to be agreed with, or to be paid obeisance.
What I ask is that you honour the effort people take in answering your
questions by spending a similar effort on digesting their reply.


3.

> If someone thinks that this is not a valid argument then they have to ask 
> themselves who is forcing them to trouble themselves with reading and 
> replying to my posts. If there is another counter-argument that I have 
> missed, then someone should enlighten me. I do not think that the fact that 
> I haven't agreed with your advice (and previously, Dworkin's advice) makes 
> me a rude person. If I simply said 'no' then that would make me rude, but I 
> think I have a valid reason to disagree and have stated it. If you think I'm 
> wrong, tell me why (privately since most people probably object to 
> off-topic-ness).
>
> Maybe you will convince me to restrain my posting, if you have a valid 
> argument as to why I should. The only way I will stop otherwise is if 
> someone declares that it is against the rules to post the way I am doing. 
> Nobody has, and I don't think I should based on my aforementioned argument, 
> so its down to somebody to convince me to stop or to order me to stop (if 
> they are in a position to do that).

That would be me.

As a matter of fact, it isn't that you post too much but that you read
too little.  If anything, I like the way you have stirred things up
and thereby helped others to gain a better understanding.  It is a
pity that you yourself have not gained much.  I do not take offense at
anything you have said.  I am tempted, however, to apply your
time-saving philosophy to my dealings with yourself.

This mailinglist has done without official rules so far.  I do not see
occasion to instate any.

Regards,
Dworkin
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