There are many ways of looking at this issue,
Cheerio ! A sensible discussion at last !
(1) Newbie friendlyness is ok, but how do the list members feel when 20 different people ask the *same* question which is answered trivially by google
Friendliness is fine. But I refuse to be someone's doormat which is what some ppl on the list like to be.
(2) There have been lists where this "no cribs, just answer question or keep mum" policy has been tried out.
Yes. And that is exactly why most ppl / veterans would be wary of answering a query in its entirety.
(3) Another model which has been tried out is that of a separate questions-only list/forum/irc/whatever which caters to these newbies.
I'll suggest something too.
(4) Are we really helping the newbies by spoon-feeding them? I think not. So if (non-RTFM) answers to trivial questions by newbies do not come about on the MAIN list, how will they come about anywhere else?
Excellent point. I'll come to this later.
In view of you points I have the foll suggestions * Somewhere in the past someone suggested a policy which the regulars can definitely abide by if not the newbies. They must first tell the newbie to RTFM , pointing out the source. Even the appropriate google query might help.
* If the newbie is so interested and yet confused to the answer, point him to the appropriate part in the source.
* still if he doesn't understand, give him the solution. This approach _was_ being followed for sometime till it degraded again.
* why can't we have a forum with the appropriate classifications ? every category of ppl (doormats too) is bound to be pleased then ? What are the things that impede such a thing ?
regards, C