Politeness (was: we want python software)

[Igor Korot]

Rustom,

On Wed, Dec 6, 2017 at 6:25 AM, Rustom Mody <rustompmody at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 4:05:43 PM UTC+5:30, Steve D'Aprano wrote:
>> On Wed, 6 Dec 2017 02:49 pm, Rustom Mody wrote:
>>
>> > You are assuming that the strangeness of the request is about 'tech'
>> > [engineering/tech existed centuries before computers]
>> >
>> > Do remember one can be a tech-{student,professional} without
>> > - ever having encountered free-software
>> > - internet/USENET culture
>> >
>> > … from which pov the request would not look so odd
>>
>> So you're suggesting that rather than being unwilling to google for "Download
>> Python" because he doesn't understand free software culture, the OP is
>> unwilling to google for "Download Python" because he thinks it is proprietary
>> software and wants a bunch of strangers on the Internet to send him a pirate
>> copy?
>>
>> I'm not entirely sure that's better...
>
> Dunno anything about OP so no 'suggesting'…
> I did hint one point above which can be restated more explicitly.
>
> An engineering degree (aka “B.Tech”) can be in any of
> - IT, CS, Computer Engineering etc
> - aeronautics, civil, electrical, mechanical… classical, non-computer related
> - bioinformatics, statistics, "scientific computing" etc ie heavy-duty *users*
>   of computers

I would agree with you here, but... (see below).

>
> For the latter two classes it would be normal/natural for the student to have
> little knowledge/interest in computer-related stuff except as a user.
>
> Are you interested in the latest disk-drive technology? power-supplies?
>  kernel? systemd-vs-sysv?  We use these all the time. Likewise these other fields are *users* of computers.
>
> Inter alia I will mention: I have a colleague working on ACM's next curriculum
> And the inter-disciplinarity of CS is the next big deal it would appear.
>
> ie "unwilling to google" could well be "ignorant of google (usage/practices)"
> Do consider the possibility that a student could be a non-owner of a computer
> and/or studying in a college in a poor/non networked location.

We live in a XXI century. This person do have access t the Internet. And he
does say "send us", which implies that (s)he request the Python not just for
one person.
Moreover, Google should not be banned from any and all college.
In fact it should be a standard policy for any technical
school/college/university
to have access to Google.
But I'm actually more curious why a student request the help and the
lab tech/teacher
if he doesn't have a computer and work/study from the college.

Thank you.

>
> So…
>
> So while the specific slurs/attacks on some country are of near-zero interest to me — to support or oppose — the deeper divisions and inequities are (IMHO) more important.
>
> So here's a little statistical exercise for you:
> - Take any demographic of your choice containing programmers.
> - Compute the male/female programmers in that population
> - Now come to this list and work out the same ratio
> - How do these ratios compare?
> [When's the last time a woman appeared here?]
>
> IOW I would wish Ethan's "control yourself" to be imperated — preferably
> by oneself, if not then forcibly.
> And especially when the vitriol is flung at a first-time poster.
> --
> https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list