Using Ubuntu absolves the user of personal responsibility?

[Michael T. Richter]

On Thu, 2006-03-08 at 09:17 -0400, Todd Slater wrote:

> I read, with some sadness, the thread on mounting an ISO as a virtual
> cd-rom. It appears that pointing someone to a web search or man page
> is no longer considered a helpful response. Instead, we must reinvent
> the wheel any time a basic question--with more than sufficient
> documentation available--is asked. However, I don't think that the
> whole Ubuntu humanity thing should be about spoon feeding, but rather
> developing competent, self-efficacious users.
> 
> When we absolve people of personal responsibility, we often create a
> situation of dependence.  As shining examples of this, we might look
> at the "health" care, social welfare, and educational systems of the
> United States.
> 
> The notion that it's not acceptable to help people to help themselves
> is really ironic when you consider the African roots of Ubuntu.
> 
> My $0.02.


That's not the issue.  The issue is how should this pointing be
presented.  Some people -- well, one person in particular -- believes in
short, terse almost mocking responses.  Others believe in helpful
responses.  Compare and contrast:

Approach #1: Google on "mount" and "ISO" you moron!

Approach #2: "mount -t iso9660 -o loop <file>"

Approach #3: "Go take a quick look at "man mount" and look at the -t and
-o options, paying attention specifically to the iso9660 type and the
loop option."

Which of the three is most immediately helpful to the end-user?
Which of the three is most long-term helpful to the end-user?
Which of the three leaves the end-user with the impression that the
community consists of troglodytes?

-- 
Michael T. Richter
Email: ttmrichter at gmail.com, mtr1966 at hotpop.com
MSN: ttmrichter at hotmail.com, mtr1966 at hotmail.com; YIM:
michael_richter_1966; AIM: YanJiahua1966; ICQ: 241960658; Jabber:
mtr1966 at jabber.cn

"I find many of the machines of violence very attractive. Tanks,
airplanes, warships, especially aircraft carriers. And the German
U-boats, submarines." --The Dalai Lama
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