[iamcasen]

I think what's worse than lazy newcomers wanting someone to hold their hand through a problem, is newcomers who try and argue for a truly terrible idea, or worse yet, call into question an idea that is as old as time.

I have had more experiences than I can count where people keep trying to reinvent the wheel and poo poo an idea that Knuth himself would be proud of.

"I don't have time to explain to you why this idea is good, it should be common sense. It would take you learning programming principles for years before you'll get it, so I won't be able to convince you in a 30 minute presentation."