Computer geeks can be kind of jerky sometimes, so here’s a suggestion for Linux etiquette.

If someone asks a question in a forum, don’t do either of these:

1) Tell them to “read the manual”
I had a simple question about the tar utility and while digging around in a Linux forum I found a reply to a similar question which basically said, “Go read the manual.” After I found GNU’s manual (the Linux jerk poweruser didn’t even give a link) I discovered it was almost 300 pages. >: (

2) Tell them to Google it
Today I typed “add Java to PATH Linux” into Google, and in one of the top results was a forum where someone had asked the same question, and the Linux jerk poweruser’s advice was to Google “add Java to PATH Linux” >:(

Of course that ruined Google’s indexing thereby making the search phrase a little less meaningful (now you know one of Google’s weaknesses)

Here’s my first rule for How not to be a Linux Jerk:
If you aren’t in the mood to actually answer the question, don’t.