[tux3]

Here's my oh-so important and unpopular opinion, because I feel like wasting 10 minutes.

>If you’ve ever tried to learn a new skill, you’ve experienced that range of reaction.

I actually haven't, because in the case of let's say, programming, I learned most everything myself. I read and google'd instead of bothering other people for every little problem.

I'm really not trying to be a jerk - honest - but hearing the same very simple questions asked again and again is tiring. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the "jack asses". Maybe they act like this for a reason, they are humans just like you after all.

I know that I don't mind helping but it sometime feels "like people never learn", imho that's often why others won't help you or will groan at your cluelessness. Most of the time you could google your questions and get an answer immediately, that's what I did and that's still what I do. This is especially true for Python, what you're learning. You can often just copy paste a working piece of code from the very first result, no thinking involved.

>The difference between the knowledgeable and the ignorant is that the knowledgeable took it on the chin, and kept going.

That's where I disagree. If you really need help, and if you at least tried to find a solution, mention it and people will help you. I will personally go out of my way to help you if it looks like you actually want and try to learn.

Questions like “What’s the difference between a list and a set?” and “A server does what?” show that you haven't done your homework ! It's a bit rude to expect people to spoonfeed you all the way and then call them assholes when they get bored of it.

>When people scoff at your questions, just move on until you find the answer. Know that up front, and when you see it, ignore it.

Or perhaps, try to understand why they scoff at your question in the first place. Calling them "ass holes" and ignoring the issue seems a bit short sighted.

>Just know when people balk at your badge, it’s means you are on the right path. Keep pushing.

Maybe "Try smarter not harder" ?

I'll finally just point you to this thing (http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html) which is a tad extreme in my opinion, but makes its point extremely clear if you can manage to read through it without calling the author a pretentious asshole and just closing the tab.

[bgun]

> I actually haven't, because in the case of let's say, programming, I learned most everything myself. I read and google'd instead of bothering other people for every little problem.

There are many ways to learn, and not everyone is capable of teaching themselves complex skills (even with access to Google). For many, social learning - being taught - is crucial.

> It's a bit rude to expect people to spoonfeed you all the way and then call them assholes when they get bored of it.

Your opinions aren't unpopular because they're wrong, and I sympathize with some of what you're saying, but statements like this (the word "spoonfeed" to describe the answer to an uneducated question in particular makes me uncomfortable) do make you sound like an asshole and someone not to be approached by a social learner.

[tux3]

>There are many ways to learn, and not everyone is capable of teaching themselves complex skills (even with access to Google). For many, social learning - being taught - is crucial.

And that's perfectly fine, it's not my place to tell people how they should be learning. What I'm trying to say, is that the simple skills, the basics, the 101 is something you should be able to find on your own. Because often it really is the first result on Google, without exaggerating. I don't mind at all teaching and talking to people, that's much more enjoyable and does work better for some poeple.

>but statements like this (the word "spoonfeed" to describe the answer to an uneducated question in particular makes me uncomfortable) do make you sound like an asshole and someone not to be approached by a social learner.

I'm sorry about that. I'm being particularly blunt to get my point across, maybe I shouldn't.

What bothered me is that it seemed to me, and perhaps I'm wrong, that the author was being unfairly aggressive and judgmental without trying to understand the position of the very people he's insulting.

[kyro]

There's a difference between "Google/Wikipedia will give you some great starting points to answer that question" and "Have you heard of Google..?" The difference is in tone: the first is encouraging and enabling, the second is demeaning. Dismiss it as trivial, but it matters hugely to a learner.

[tux3]

I totally agree, and I'm not happy with people who spam RTFM and lmgtfy.com either, but I still think that they have a point.

The problem is the sheer number of people who do not know they can just use Wikipedia and Google, all of they who ask one question and either never reply again or ignore advice no matter the form.

But perhaps you're right, maybe if the "assholes" as Emile Petrone call them tried to be more gentle, people would actually listen to them.

[judk]

Of lmgtfy yields the answer, it's right, not rude.