Patience, Questions & Talent
Over the years, I've come to notice a pattern. For reasons I can't explain, a lot of people come to me with their problems. Whether it's a coding problem, a boyfriend problem or just a big rant after a bad day, I've heard it all. When someone comes to me with a problem, I'm all ears and I do my best to help out. Nothing special about that, that's just part of being human.
When it comes to coding, some people keep coming back with more questions. I'm sure you've all experienced the same thing. They start off with really broad and general things like "Can you show me how to make a website" or "Can you help me with my Java homework?". After a while, they move on to more specific questions, along the lines of "Why doesn't this bit of CSS work in browser X?" or "What does this stacktrace mean?".
Some people stop asking questions after a while, because they've reached a level that's sufficient for their needs or because they lose interest. The people who ask the most questions — and don't stop asking, are in my opinion the most interesting ones. They inevitably surpass me in everything they do and eventually the roles become reversed.
Talent is cultivated and requires patience. So when someone comes to you with a question, I suggest you keep an open mind and exercise patience, even if your first thought is "OMFG RTFM n00b!". You never know when you might turn to them with your questions!
