On 18/02/15 15:24, James Chapman wrote:
One of my pet hates about this list... "This is a tutor list, your question
is out of scope". Sure there might be better places to seek answers, and
sure maybe the first responder doesn't know the answer, but that's not a
reason to respond with that phrase.
The point of these responses is two fold:
1) It guides the poster to a more appropriate place to get the answers
they need. This list is populated by a large number of beginners who
probably can't answer specialised topics and a smaller number of more
expert volunteers who are here to answer beginner type questions. It is
pot luck whether within that community there exists anyone with the
specialised skills needed for any given question. So asking on a
specialised forum (or a general forum with more experts) makes sense.
2) Asking too many specialised or deeply technical questions scares
off the beginners and newbies that this list is designed to cater for.
If they can't understand the content of much of the mails then they
assume they must be too stupid to participate or learn. We don't want
that to happen.
After all the official description of the group says in the very
first line:
" This list is for folks who want to ask questions regarding how to
learn computer programming with the Python language and its standard
library."
It goes on:
" Folks interested in learning about programming with Python are
encouraged to join, as are folks interested in helping others learn.
While the list is called tutor, anyone, whether novice or expert, can
answer questions."
We already have a general interest Python list, the reason for spinning
off a separate tutor list some 18(?) years ago was specifically to
remove some of the techno-fear that the main list generated for beginners.
But we very rarely flat out refuse to answer, we usually just say you'll
likely get a better response elsewhere. Which is a simple
statement of the facts.
--
Alan G
List moderator
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