How to ask smart questions[edit]
Hackers blow off questions that are inappropriately targeted in order to try to protect their communications channels from being drowned in irrelevance. You don't want this to happen to you.
Use meaningful, specific subject headers[edit]
Stupid:
HELP! Video doesn't work properly on my laptop!
Smart:
XFree86 4.1 misshapen mouse cursor, Fooware MV1005 vid. chipset
Smarter:
XFree86 4.1 mouse cursor on Fooware MV1005 vid. chipset - is misshapen
Describe the goal, not the step[edit]
Stupid:
How do I get the color-picker on the FooDraw program to take a hexadecimal RGB value?
Smart:
I'm trying to replace the color table on an image with values of my choosing. Right now the only way I can see to do this is by editing each table slot, but I can't get FooDraw's color picker to take a hexadecimal RGB value.
RTFM / STFW[edit]
There is an ancient and hallowed tradition: if you get a reply that reads RTFM the person who sent it thinks you should have Read The Fucking Manual. He is almost certainly right. Go read it.
RTFM has a younger relative. If you get a reply that reads STFW, the person who sent it thinks you should have Searched The Fucking Web. He is almost certainly right. Go search it. (The milder version of this is when you are told Google is your friend!)