If one has nothing to add, being rude isn't an alternative.

Since the early days of Linux, whenever new users and others, would go to boards and forums seeking information on a specific topic, there would be the inevitable reply "rtfm".

"Rtfm" is, of course, "Read The F(reaking) Manual".

Now as advice in general, it's always good to read any documentation available on a given subject. But, all too often, "rtfm" has been nothing more than an excuse for some users to be rude. They have nothing to contribute, likely do not have the information the original poster is seeking, but feel some compulsion to reply and take up space anyway.

Perhaps they think they are being witty. Or maybe they are trying to appease the Nerd Gods of Linux who disdain anyone not born with all computer knowledge already in their heads.

At any rate, if one has nothing to contribute, even a link to such a manual, then please, have the sense to not post at all.

Yes, as alluded to earlier, it will help many people to investigate all documentation they can find before asking a needless question.

However, one of the biggest complaints about the Linux world is in regard to documentation. How poorly it is organized and how uber-technical it is written at times.

Many times, many users are looking for a solution and they want to find a manual to do it themselves. But, no one thought to provide the specific information they are looking for in the provided manual, or, there is at times, no manual at all. Then what? Where does one go from there?

Google is where they go. There is a common phrase now "Google is your friend". So much so, it is replacing "RTFM". Which of course makes it just as rude. If you have nothing specific to contribute to the discussion, why must you feel the need to point out something that is becoming the de facto search process.

Google is a fantastic tool for finding information from anywhere in the world. As good as google is though. It can only find what is already there. If there is no such doc then it cannot find what you are looking for.

Or, if someone has put the info about, say marble grinding technicalities, into a pdf titled "How to tie your shoes". Which in the Linux world seems to be a commonality, to misname or use convoluted naming for docs and apps. How is one supposed to know to look for that?

Hence, the post in the first place. many users ask for help in forums to find info, they don't always want the other users to solve it for them, they want to learn. Mostly, they just want some direction. Where to go, what are the "good" docs to look into, etc...

So, if you really don't know the answers they are looking for or just have nothing to contribute to the discussion, please, avoid the compulsion to simply post "rtfm or "google". You're not being cute or funny and you are just generally not being helpful.

Once again, I will say to the prospective searcher, one really really should try to look into what is available first before asking for help, you may surprise yourself.

Happy Hunting.