Why is it so hard to get an answer to the question that I asked in #bash?
See NetEtiquette for suggestions.
#bash aphorism #1: The questioner's first description of the problem/question will be misleading.
corollary 1.1: The questioner's second description of the problem/question will also be misleading.
#bash aphorism #2: The questioner will keep changing the original question until it drives the helpers in the channel insane.
The aphorisms given here are intended to be humorous, but with a touch of realism underlying them. Several have been suggested over time, but only the ones shown above have remained largely untouched. Others include:
- The data is never formatted in the way that makes it easiest to manipulate.
- 30 to 40 percent of the conversations in #bash will be about aphorisms #1 and #2.
- The questioner will never tell you what they are really doing the first time they ask.
- The questioner's third description of the problem will clarify two previously misdescribed elements of the problem, but will add two new irrelevant issues that will be even more difficult to unravel from the actual problem.
- Offtopicness will continue until someone asks a bash question that falls under bashphorisms 1 and/or 2, and greycat gets pissed off.
- The questioner will not read and apply the answers he is given but will instead continue to practice b1 and b2.
- The ignorant will continually mis-educate the other noobies.
- When given a choice of two solutions, the newbie will always choose the more complicated, or less portable, solution.