Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!think!ames!umd5!brl-adm!adm!PAAAAAR%CALSTATE.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu
From: PAAAAAR%CALSTATE.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: RE: Re: Questions without answers
Message-ID: <16211@brl-adm.ARPA>
Date: 17 Jun 88 07:55:46 GMT
Sender: news@brl-adm.ARPA
Lines: 27


    (Root Boy) Jim Cottrell    <rbj@icst-cmr.arpa> writes
>What I object to is unix-wizard class questions being asked in info-unix.

It is possible for a beginner to ask a question that can only be answered by
a wizard, and a novice by definition can not know that the question demands
a wizardly answer, rather than the classic - "No you can't recover a 'rm'ed..."
type of answer.
In fact *only* a wizard can state with certainty that something is "impossible".

A systems solution is to embed answers to the most repetitive question inside
the UNIX system itself - but how many implementers will be listening to
the gripes and groans of novices....

Now, Once upon a time in a Lab a long way from here...they had a policy of
listening to user's and tuning the commands as a result...

Perhaps all UNIX systems administrater's should be forced to read
INFO-UNIX or comp.unix.questions?:-)
Perhaps a smallish expert system could bounce back instant answers to
questions that fit repetitive patterns.
Dick Botting
PAAAAAR@CCS.CSUSCC.CALSTATE(doc-dick)
paaaaar@calstate.bitnet
PAAAAAR%CALSTATE.BITNET@{depends on the phase of the moon}.EDU
Dept Comp Sci., CSUSB, 5500 State Univ Pkway, San Bernardino CA 92407
Disclaimer: I am an only an egg