And maybe, just maybe, BlueOpal gave those answers in case the OP is *NOT*
looking for help and is just looking to get free answers to homework. If
the OP turns in homework with those answers, s/he'll have hell to pay with
the instructor.

As would be deserved for trying to *CHEAT*.

[snip]

Perhaps it is me, but I read any sentence that starts with 'please' as a
request rather than an instruction.

"pass me the salt" = instruction,

"please pass me the salt" = request.

You may see this differently as many people in authority, for
politeness' sake, say "please do this for me" when what they mean is "do
this for me".  This doesn't detract from the different meanings though.

/************/

For what is an international medium there are many scraps on Usenet that
are based on the subtleties of language.  It's interesting to watch it
unfold...

Mitch.

disclaimer:  These are opinions, and I haven't gone to the trouble of
checking my dictionary (though as British, who knows if my version our
version of the English language counts any more).  Also, I haven't
directed this at any particular party.  You are free to publish any
opinions on this matter and I promise to take them, at least, with a
pinch of salt.

Um . . . Here's your sign?

--
LTP

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 13:18:21 GMT, "newsnet customer"
<customer@newsnet.com> wrote, quoted or indirectly quoted someone who
said :

That is not what he did. He simply requested people not to do newbie's
homework and explained why he was making that request. He even said
please.

I think the consensus here is you should not baby newbies.  You might
give hints or encouragement, or answer specific questions, but you
should never simply do the homework for a newbie.  It robs him of his
education, even if he is too foolish to see that.  See
http://mindprod.com/jgloss/homework.html where I elaborate on that
argument.

The general request not to tell people what they can or cannot do is a
bit ridiculous. That is what learning to program is all about,
learning what you can and cannot do, and what is considered the best
way to do things.

If you do newbie's homework for them, look at what your motive might
be?

1. ability to show off a little by answering easy questions nobody
else takes a kick at?

2. the gratitude of the foolish newbie?

3. something prevented you from caring for infants to the point of
saturation at some point in your life?  You enjoy caring for the young
and apparently helpless.

4. hoping for a little extra cash from lazy but well heeled students?

5. to appear kind-hearted?

It is like the old fight been grandparents and parents with the
grandparents wanting to spoil the kids, even if it teaches them bad
habits and rots their teeth.

It's a request (see "please"), not a 'tell', and it's a request made for
a good reason.

There's a good reason for requesting what people do. This group (and
others) maintain a certain standard, and that standard exists because
regulars give feedback. One of the reasons people like yourself can come
and request help, and get decent help, is because people don't tend to
allow the group to become a mire of homework questions and nonsense,
which would push away the regulars/experienced ones.

Every now and then someone fairly new to the group answers what appears
to be an obvious case of a homework question pasted straight into the
group. This can be counter productive.
Do you really want to sit in a newsgroup where lazy people just come by
and paste their homework questions verbatim and get them answered? How
are they going to learn much that way?

Check out Roedy Green's page on homework in the Java glossary.
http://mindprod.com/jgloss/homework.html

(It looks like the first replier to the homework question pasted a load
of nonsense, mind you!)

[Alex wrote:]

   I took this to be an ironic statement showing the futility of asking
(politely or otherwise) people on Usenet to do behave a certain way. If Alex
continues "telling" (requesting?) people not to do something, it just
further highlights the futility.

   Not sure if this was "newsnet customer"'s intent.

   - Oliver