How do I compare a string with client.read() ?

[Rigby]

Here's the thing: one can criticize another, while simultaneously expressing a positive and encouraging tone easily enough.  Instead people choose to express a tone that communicates little more than "I already dislike you, you're an idiot, do the work yourself, you're not welcome here."

I myself have avoided asking many, many questions because I have a feeling that many of you will respond negatively.  So, I don't ask.  I research when I can, and I know there are people here that can help guide me but I dare not speak up.

The worst thing about any hobby is always the community.  I used to say that the best thing about any hobby is the community, because that used to be true.

[TopLoser]

There were several fundamental issues with his initial post.

1. The subject title was utter nonsense. The question just didn't make sense. He should have put a lot more thought into letting people know what his actual problem was. We can try and read peoples minds but in his case it didn't seem worth the effort to be honest!

2. The body of his post wasn't exactly illuminating either. There was just a chunk of random code with no helpful additional information, and an obvious lack of understanding of very simple concepts. Just a cocky 'make this work for me' attitude.

A bit of thought put into that initial post would have prompted far more helpful responses.

He didn't seem short of words later into the thread though, I'm sure he was putting more thought, time and effort into his rantings instead of trying to solve his problem.

[digsys]

Here's the thing: one can criticize another, while simultaneously expressing a positive and encouraging tone easily enough.  Instead people choose to express a tone that communicates little more than "I already dislike you, you're an idiot, do the work yourself, you're not welcome here."
I myself have avoided asking many, many questions because I have a feeling that many of you will respond negatively.  So, I don't ask.  I research when I can, and I know there are people here that can help guide me but I dare not speak up.
The worst thing about any hobby is always the community.  I used to say that the best thing about any hobby is the community, because that used to be true. 

Don't let a few derailed threads put you off, or stop you asking questions. Once you understand the "life force" of a web forum,
it's not difficult to avoid the cr@p. Mostly it's about probability. Many posts, perceived dumb or otherwise, get answered with
great content and attitude. There are many cases, all the time. It all depends on WHO just happened to see you post first, and if
they were in their PMS cycle at the time. And once negative replies start, social "mob" forces usually attract more of the same.
PLUS there are few "regular / high count" posters (who should know better) that have taken position of ownership and won't
back down. They rarely even bother to try to understand an OPs question, or if this is their native language.
IF it happens to you, and I've had respondents here do it to my posts, don't bother replying to the stupids.
Either, wait it out, or try again in a new time zone with a new thread. Often, it's not worth trying to save a derailed thread.
Don't let the clowns stop you ! The Internet is a rich breeding ground for them.

[Rigby]

There were several fundamental issues with his initial post.

1. The subject title was utter nonsense. The question just didn't make sense. He should have put a lot more thought into letting people know what his actual problem was. We can try and read peoples minds but in his case it didn't seem worth the effort to be honest!

2. The body of his post wasn't exactly illuminating either. There was just a chunk of random code with no helpful additional information, and an obvious lack of understanding of very simple concepts. Just a cocky 'make this work for me' attitude.

A bit of thought put into that initial post would have prompted far more helpful responses.

He didn't seem short of words later into the thread though, I'm sure he was putting more thought, time and effort into his rantings instead of trying to solve his problem.

I'm not arguing any of that.  In fact, I agree with you. 

I'm arguing that the initial post quality, no matter what it is, should solicit help or advice, rather than condemnation.  If there isn't enough information to answer the question, or even if there isn't a question, guidance on what is required would go a lot further than immediate rejection or dismissal.

I came here expecting (naively, as always) altruistic motivations from those who bother to respond to a question.  I do see that, and I also see a great deal of criticism and contempt.  At that point, those folks are now a clique of divas.  It is that which I dislike. 

Truthfully, I should expect this by now.  I've been participating in conversations online for over 20 years.  I'm not sure if my constant surprise at the discovery of hobby cliques is due to my own stupidity or my own optimism.  I guess it doesn't matter.

I'll just end this with an edit.  My grandfather always said "there is no person on this planet that you cannot learn from."  My brothers interpreted this as "you are so stupid that everyone knows more than you."  I took it to mean that "no one holds a complete superset of another's knowledge."  It is likely that this lesson (my interpretation of it) drives my own altruistic or helpful actions.  I've learned a great deal by answering questions and talking to people that need help, even when I thought they had a lot to learn.

[AlfBaz]

I'm arguing that the initial post quality, no matter what it is, should solicit help or advice, rather than condemnation.  If there isn't enough information to answer the question, or even if there isn't a question, guidance on what is required would go a lot further than immediate rejection or dismissal.

Have you ever been a member of a forum where you were the one helping and answering others?
I am not one here but have been on other micro forums and it can sometimes take a lot of effort to help somebody through a problem. Copying and pasting code, compiling it, simulating it, reading manuals and data sheets, searching the net etc, etc.

Then you come across a post where the person is asking a question that can easily be found with a quick search, in some forums the answer may be in the FAQ section. Still no big deal, if you know the answer and its a quick and easy reply away you go, but when the question is framed in such a way that it is evident the person has not only put no effort into finding an answer but is putting no effort into asking the question and then to top it off the question is not being asked, its being demanded you are bound to cop a serve. In fact I think the response from members here were quite moderate in comparison to the utter bone headedness of this OP.

Yes it is a community and in a community a little effort goes a long way