Balancing "Amiability" and Directionless D*ckweeds

Michael,

I haven't bothered coming to you concerning "amiability" for two reasons.

First, I figure we're all grownups (or reasonable facsimiles -chuckle-), and if someone's skin is so thin and spine is so weak that they cannot stand up for themselves, I'm certainly too busy to play Recess Police when they get a boo-boo on their bum-bum. -grin- (As for me taking action on my own behalf, "easily hurt" is one of those terms that, like "good dancer", "tall", and "stunningly handsome" will NEVER be associated with me. I'm a bald little garden gnome with a hide like a rhinoceros and the subtlety and tact of a stone axe. By the time I get offended enough to require external action, I'm generally wishing I could send my friends to call upon his friends to arrange a morning tete a tete with pistols. -snort- )

Second, while I have noticed a change, it's a minor one that I feel is best handled by peer pressure and others deciding to help the new chum out, rather than invoking the Hammer of Dorosh directly. This thread is a perfect example.

But I fully grok your frustration with the "Newbie of a Thousand Questions". I once offered to ship a noob on another board one of my out of print references for a month's perusal, if he'd just agree to pay insured return shipping, and SHUT UP until he finished the book -- ALL of his questions could be answered in the first five chapters. (He took the hint, and found a copy to buy. Afterwards, he was a much better contributor.)

Rick