Re: [xsl] qualitative decline of xsl-list questions (was Re: Date)

[Mike Brown <mike@xxxxxxxx>]

Michael Kay wrote:
> I think we get a fair number of questions from students 
> who are not getting the help they need from those who are
> paid to teach them.

Yes, this a good point, and it's a boat I've been in, myself.

I received several "Amen, Brother" replies off-list already, although
one person took exception to the notion that a question that one could've
answered themselves with enough diligent research indicates incompetence
on the part of the poster. A lot of people just don't have the background
to ask the right questions or use the right terminology or avoid making
erroneous assumptions about how XSLT works.

My response was, I guess it's more just that if someone has presented a
question in such a way as to indicate that given an infinite amount of time
and resources at their disposal, they still wouldn't be able to figure out the
solution, it's no longer a pleasure to help them solve their puzzles.

I think we do try to distinguish between situations where there's just a
language barrier or gaps in knowledge that lead one to use the wrong
terminology or make mistaken assumptions, etc., and those cases where the
poster has unwittingly indicated that they're just outright incompetent. 

At any rate, I'm just venting. Too much time on my hands. :)

Mike

-- 
  Mike J. Brown   |  http://skew.org/~mike/resume/
  Denver, CO, USA |  http://skew.org/xml/

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