[Python-Dev] Python-dev signal-to-noise processing question

average dreamingforward at gmail.com
Thu Jul 22 21:29:46 CEST 2010


>  > > ...After a sufficient period of waiting, say a day or two with no response:
>  >
>  >    Ok, I'll wait a bit longer.
>
> I don't think that's a good idea.

My bad, I really only meant a "sufficient delay to allow the
possibility of an interested party replying".  I actually figured
about a day.

> OTOH I think as quick as possible an answer is a good idea here.  It
> saves the intended audience the thought about whether to reply or not,

The intended audience (the python developers or other interested
lurkers) hardly need to give much thought on whether or not to reply.
No one on a -dev list is expected to be a tutor.  To have any reply
whatsoever should be considered a bestowal of time without equal
merit, or gratis.  Ideally, those who aren't subscribed should get an
immediate, automatic reply about resources available and how to engage
the community without raising the ire of same.  If there's no such
automatic resource, but a designated list manager, this should be sent
in private so as not to engage or bother the rest of the list with
canned responses, otherwise publically so as to avoid duplication of
effort.  To those who *are* subscribed, they probably don't need to be
told.

A reference or link to ESR's "How to Ask Questions The Smart Way"
(http://catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html) is a pretty good
inclusion also.  For those who may have never heard of it, it's pretty
much the authority on developer list etiquette.

$0.02,

Marcos


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