Checking a Number for Palindromic Behavior

[Falcolas]

On Oct 20, 11:18 am, ru... at yahoo.com wrote:
> Why *not* answering a question in comp.lang.python
> because you think it is homework is BAD.
>
> 1) It may look like a homework problem to you but it
>  probably isn't.
>  Seehttp://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/msg/8ac6db43b09fdc92

Homework comes in many forms - school driven homework should be
treated the same as self driven research, IMO. You're not doing it to
be told the answer, you're likely doing it to learn.

> 2) When you publicly accuse someone of "cheating" (and
>  even asking is tantamount to an accusation unless done
>  very tactfully), especially without anything more than
>  your "feelings" to back it up, you will likely anger
>  the poster, contribute to an generally unpleasant
>  atmosphere in the newsgroup, and intimidate other
>  people who want to ask legitimate questions.

Arguing with a long standing Usenet and clp traditions are just as
likely to cause an unpleasant atmosphere.

> 3) You are not responding only to the original poster;
>  there are many other silent readers who are interested
>  in the answer and whom you are depriving of knowledge
>  by refusing to answer.

MRAB provided a perfect answer - anybody who wants to know more, or
could not connect the dots, can always ask for more information.

> 4) When you post a specific solution to a question,
>  usually a number of other people will respond with
>  alternate or better solutions.  While perhaps overkill
>  for the original poster who likely will be satisfied
>  with any answer, such discussion greatly benefits
>  other readers.

See previous.

> 5) Although "working out" an answer oneself is the usual
>  goal of homework problems, it is not the only way to
>  learn.  Often, when one is really stuck, one can learn
>  what one is supposed to by seeing the fully worked out
>  problem's answer.  You, who don't know anything about
>  the poster, are not in a position to decide for him/her
>  what the best way of learning is.  The poster is also
>  free to ignore your answer if he/she chooses.

Again, if the original, directing answer was not sufficient, the
original poster is welcome to ask for more information. Doing so will
likely help them as much as it would help this "silent reader"
population.

> 6) Please don't apply your abstract moral standards to
>  the entire rest of the world, knowing nothing about the
>  particular circumstances of the poster.

So, let the poster give the circumstances. We have just as much right
to question his motives as you have to question ours.

> 7) If the poster is determined to cheat, he/she will do
>  so with or without your help.  Your self-righteous
>  stand will serve only to generate the above undesirable
>  results without changing the poster's behavior.

How did MRAB's response negatively affect anybody?

> Of course, whether you choose to provide a specific
> answer to something you think is homework, or not,
> is ultimately a personal decision and you are free
> to follow your conscious.  Just please don't demand
> that every other participant in this group adopt
> your personal standards.

When you join a long standing community, you're expected to follow
their conventions. Don't top post, don't do someone else's homework,
etc.

Garrick