mailing list for basic questions - preliminary sum up
The fact that I've been using R for quite a while now and did not know about this document is supporting evidence of the need to get this sort of information out there. However that big list is going to daunt some people, it would have daunted me at the beginning. At a time when you are digesting a whole new universe (wonderful though it is) some short and pithy help is welcome. I expect that there would be a consensus on which topics are essential to improve the quality of questions. It is this select group of comments that could be put in a standard email sent out once a month. I would assume that the link to Eric Raymond's "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way"1 would be part of the advice. That is if you're going to spoon feed, then spoon feed the advice that helps the list most and encourage new list members to take the time to read the longer document. I think this special treatment is warranted because the issue is not about R per-se, it is about this list, so it makes more sense to have it coming out of this list rather than an entry in the R-FAQ. Although I can't see a reason for not doing both. Hmmm. Before I post this I had better go and see what Eric has to say about this sort of message. Ciao, Tom 1 An assumption on my part is that there is fundamental agreement that the document is the best source for advice on how to ask questions of this list _________________________________________________ Tom Mulholland Senior Policy Officer WA Country Health Service Tel: (08) 9222 4062 The contents of this e-mail transmission are confidential and may be protected by professional privilege. The contents are intended only for the named recipients of this e-mail. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, reproduction, disclosure or distribution of the information contained in this e-mail is prohibited. Please notify the sender immediately. -----Original Message----- From: Liaw, Andy [mailto:andy_liaw at merck.com] Sent: Thursday, 18 December 2003 8:26 AM To: 'Tom Mulholland' Cc: r-help at stat.math.ethz.ch Subject: RE: [R] mailing list for basic questions - preliminary sum up
From: Tom Mulholland I have empathy for lots of the points already made, more often on the life is not always easy and you have to work at it flavour because that's where you make the real gains. One particular message early in the piece cited an example of what a good request might look like. Other lists sometime send out regular messages (although they tend to be about the rules of the list) that are intended to make sure that important pieces of information are regularly repeated. I know that there is more than enough talent on this list to put together suggestions for getting quick responses that could be sent out regularly. The sorts of things that might be in it would be when you should attach details of operating system, version etc. (or if they should always be there) as well as comments like those by Spencer Graves and it could include the checklist that someone mentioned (I think that was Frank Harrell). It would almost be a pro-forma for messages and while people don't have to use it, it may help those who do think before they post (we'll never stop some people, because that's just the way they are) Tom Mulholland Tom Mulholland Associates
Please see Eric Raymond's "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way" (http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html). (One of these days I shall take up Martin's suggestion and write an entry for R-FAQ pointing to it. The problem is getting people to actually read the FAQ, let alone links in the FAQ...) Best, Andy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Notice: This e-mail message, together with any attachments,...{{dropped}} ______________________________________________ R-help at stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list https://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help