Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!microsoft!bruceki
From: bruceki@microsoft.UUCP (Bruce KING)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Manners when asking for information
Summary: Why it is not polite to ask for email
Keywords: Why it is not polite to ask for email
Message-ID: <10146@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 4 Jan 90 21:19:14 GMT
Reply-To: bruceki@microsoft.UUCP (Bruce King)
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 27
References:



  I've seen 5 or 10 requests in the last week that are about information that
I'm interested in.  In each case the person posing the question has asked for
email.  I'd like to see those questions get asked on the network.  

  Look -- by sending email you're not benefitting anyone but the recipient of
the request, and if they DO post a summary to the network it's often weeks
after the intial query -- and may not get through anyways.  

  If you're considering posing a question, consider NOT asking it to be 
responded to in email.  There are even some benefits to you:

  * responses get commented on by other net people
  * incorrect responses get corrected
  * responses that are visible spawn other responses--resulting in more info.
  * you (personally) have less work to do; you don't have to post a summary


  That seem fair enough?  If you're asking, there are probably a few 
hundred or a few thousand people all over the world who want that same
question answered.  
  This message is not aimed at anyone.  It's a general philosophy that 
I'd like to see more people ahere to.  

  Bruce King / uunet!microsoft!bruceki / (206) 882-8080
  Claimer:  This isn't my idea, but I support it.  It's not Microsoft's idea.