Quote Originally Posted by user unknown
If you don't tell the greenhorns, how to behave in a forum - where shall they learn it?
How even recognize, that their behaviour is horrible?
Well, I always thought it best to teach by example. After all, they're coming here to learn what we know - wouldn't they naturally try to emulate, given enough time? Don't most people naturally aspire for respect among colleagues? That's always the way it's been in my professional career. And should it become necessary to give someone a good dressing-down, then it should normally come from a recognized authority figure, perhaps a site admin or a mod, for outrageous behavior that the poster knew darn good and well was inappropriate. You don't go slapping newbs with sarcasm just because they don't know any better and they're easy targets for ambush. This is a forum, not a blanket party - if you insist upon micromanaging the behavior of others, then make sure your own behavior is beyond question first.

As far as sanctimony is concerned, what I'm referring to is the idea that slapping newbs around is justifiable as "good for them". I've heard all this before. When I went to college, all the fraternity boys started spouting the same old justifications every time they got caught hazing freshman pledges - that it was educational, or part of a culture or tradition. Bull! They did it because they thought it was fun to exercise domination over someone who was disadvantaged by a lack of information and experience. If you're going to do it anyway, then at least be honest about why.