Fesshole 🧻Mar 3
On Linux forums I, a woman, would get ignored and disrespected. These days I ask my question, then switch to a fake account to give a completely wrong answer, then switch back again to thank them and praise their Linux knowledge. The experts show up right away. Sorted.
Show thread☮ ♥ ♬ 🧑‍💻Mar 4

@fesshole as a rule I’ve always looked at the answer (or question) not who posted it. As for asking technical Q’s on forums; The 10-80-10 rule applies.

10% are noobs with the wrong answer.
80% don’t know the answer, think they do and often, not always lead you down the wrong path to a partial solution.

The final 10% know the answer, may or may not reply or even be on the forums.

Show threadDavid PMar 4

@peterrenshaw @fesshole

You've left out the percentage who tell you there's something wrong with your question and close the thread before you get a chance to address it. Fucking toxic tech forums.

Show thread☮ ♥ ♬ 🧑‍💻Mar 4

@fesshole @pewnack yeah I’ve seen that. I was a beta tester on a popular *Old-World* Q/A where I was “Last seen more than 10 years ago”. ¥

The login system used bad, the idea of technical pedant’s answering questions from mostly n00bs was rewarded.

Thoughtful longer tailored answers ignored for short snappy RTFM, then mean cryptic answers or references to past questions was the norm.

AI chewed this idea up. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer mob.

The way Python docs are written, Man & info files, RFCs and books are a gold standard for documentation and learning core concepts. Usenet, (historically) twitter were good for water cooler Q/A’s.

¥ <https://stackoverflow.com/users/2092/bootload>

User bootload

Stack Overflow | The World’s Largest Online Community for Developers

Stack Overflow
Show threadDavid P

@peterrenshaw @fesshole

I've experienced nothing but toxic behaviour. Speaking specifically of Stack exchange/overflow. I just don't use it as anything other than a read only resource anymore.

Meanwhile, in my workplace there are several of those toxic dickheads I now try my very best to stay clear.

This toxic bullshit was well before LLMs.

At least LLMs aren't condescending arseholes.

Mar 4 at 11:03amWeb
Show threadDavid PMar 4

@peterrenshaw

Meanwhile, do you realise how condescending and infantilising the term "n00bs" actually is?

@fesshole

Show thread☮ ♥ ♬ 🧑‍💻Mar 5

@pewnack @fesshole yeah, but it’s accurate. You have the knowledge that people “don’t know, what they don’t know” and are confidently oblivious to this.

Had a “Marketing Guy” look at developers all day and came to the conclusion Marketing was place where the money was made and turning ideas into code was easy. Watched him for days wiring up some simple GUI in VB with a button.

He was a total n00b.

Show threadDavid PMar 5

@peterrenshaw

The term is childish and made to be infantilising.

Have you even tried using "beginners"?

@fesshole

Show thread☮ ♥ ♬ 🧑‍💻Mar 5

@pewnack @fesshole beginners, true beginners are humble and want to listen and learn. So should everyone who knows a skill. There are always new things to learn and master.

N00bs want to go from zero to good without staying humble, listening and mastering basics.

Show threadMarc EtienneMar 8

@pewnack @peterrenshaw @fesshole in a way, "n00b" is self deprecating, because of the l33tsp33k origin and the deliberate misspelling. If intentional, it can be humanizing, so context matters.

I see it as shorthand in many cases for "oh, you sweet summer child", but I was never a gamer.