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RTFM

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RTFM is an initialism for the statement "Read The Fucking Manual." This instruction is sometimes given in response to a question when the person being asked believes that the question could be easily answered by reading the relevant "manual" or instructions.

To avoid the use of the expletive "fucking", the "F" is often translated to another adjective, such as "Fantastic," "Friggin'," "Friendly," "Freaking," "Flipping," "Flaming." Some people prefer the backronym "Read The Fine Manual." Alternatively, the "F" can be dropped entirely and the initialism rendered as "RTM" (Read The Manual), or the more polite "RTMP" (Read The Manual Please).

Use and overuse

An Internet forum where users read the FAQ before posting their questions is more likely to have a better signal to noise ratio than one that is filled with repetitive postings, and hence is more likely to attract continued participation. When evaluating whether it is acceptable to express sentiments like RTFM, one must consider the trade-off between maintaining the usability of an Internet forum for its existing users, and making a forum welcoming to newcomers.

Critics say that frequent users of the phrase (or similar sentiments) are simply expressing elitism, and that their attitude drives away newcomers without helping them. Their time could better be spent adding the question and answer to a FAQ, pointing the user to a helpful website, or simply not responding.[1] They point out that RTFM is often used when it is not even clear which manual their correspondent should be reading.[2] One of the most frequent criticisms of the open source community (where this initialism is often found) is lack of friendly support for newcomers. The Ubuntu Forums and LinuxQuestions.org, for instance, have instituted "no RTFM" policies to promote a welcoming atmosphere.[3][4]

RTFM [and] "Go look on google" are two inappropriate responses to a question. If you don't know the answer or don't wish to help, please say nothing instead of brushing off someone's question. Politely showing someone how you searched or obtained the answer to a question is acceptable, even encouraged.

...

If you wish to remind a user to use search tools or other resources when they have asked a question you feel is basic or common, please be very polite. Any replies for help that contain language disrespectful towards the user asking the question, i.e. "STFU" or "RTFM" are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

— Forum Policies and Expectations — Ubuntu Forums

This phrase is also commonly used in Massive Multiplayer Online games, from people aggravated by newbies asking how to do something that is explained in the manual.

Some hackers have suggested that in some situations "RTFM" is actually the best advice that an aspiring hacker can receive.[5] They posit that hacking is a dynamic art which requires independence and drive on the part of the hacker, and see "RTFM" as more of a long-term advisement than it is a response to any single query. This argument is only applicable when used with other hackers, however, given that the concepts surrounding open source software are designed to be suitable for use by non-hackers. In fact, Usability experts recommend designing some kind of software to be usable without a manual at all, since users don't ever actually read them.[6]

There are many derivative acronyms of the form "RTF*", where '*' is the appropriate source of information. These include "RTFC" (Read The Fucking Code), "RTFFAQ or "RTFF" (Read The Fucking FAQ) and "RTFW" (Read The Fucking Wiki or Walkthrough). Other variations of the acronym replace the letter 'F' with the less offensive 'D' for 'damn' or, in Commonwealth countries, 'B' for 'bloody'. Still others use a different verb, such as "OTFM" (Open The Fucking Manual).

Another, less vulgar expression is "Read The Furnished Material"

Other derivatives of this expression found in hacker slang or internet slang include:

FGI  : "Fucking Google It"
GIYD : Google It You Dumbass (pronounced "GUIDE")
GIYF : for "Google is your friend" and the not so polite version "Google it you Fucker"
GLOG : "Go Look On Google"
JFGI : "Just fucking google it"
JFWI : "Just fucking Wiki it" — a derivative of JFGI found on IRC.
RTFA : "Read The Fucking Article" — commonly used on Slashdot, digg and Fark, and usually said to someone who has obviously posted a comment without reading the relevant article.
RTFN : "Read The Fucking News"
RTFQ : "Read The Fucking Question" — sometimes used by technical instructors to prevent exam errors due to a less-than-thorough reading of the test item by the student. Also "RTMFQ".
RTFS : "Read The Fucking Source" — commonly used by programmers to other programmers or sufficiently technically aware people who would benefit from looking at the source code.
RTFW : "Read The Fucking Wiki" — commonly used in open source projects with their own wiki
STFNG : "Search The Fucking News Group" — probably goes back at least to the advent of DejaNews in 1995. The earliest citation Google Groups has for it is March 1999.
STFW : "Search The Fucking Web" — first seen on Usenet in 1996 (may also mean "so the fuck what?")
TFA : "The Fucking Article" — also commonly used on Slashdot and Fark to refer to the article in question.
UTFG : "Use The Fucking Google" — Variations include: FGI for "Fucking Google It"
UTFSF : "Use the fucking search function" Similar to 'FGI'
UTFW : "Use the Fucking Wikipedia"
UTSL : "Use the Source, Luke" — A parody on the popular Star Wars line.
RTFC : "Read the fucking card" Used by Magic: The Gathering players as a reminder not to make play errors based on not reading the cards.
ESTO : "Equipment Smarter Than Operator" same principle as the article title
PEBKAC : "Problem exists between keyboard and chair"
I-D-TEN-T : replace TEN with 10, the word reads ID10T, or idiot. It is first used in snipe hunting.
EEUC : Equipment Exceeds User Capabilities
PEGA : Pilot Error! Go Around!
WTFM : "Write the Fucking Manual" — Seen in a post on the R-help mailing list: "This is all documented in TFM. Those who WTFM don't want to have to WTFM again on the mailing list. RTFM." (Barry Rowlingson, R-help, October 2003)

Some of these versions are less pejorative than RTFM and used in a humorous sense, as it is assumed that it was the developer's fault for not providing documentation.

There is also a French magazine titled RTFM, short for Read That Friendly Magazine. It costs €3.50 in Metropolitan France and contains computer jokes and stickers.

In the game F.E.A.R. for the PC and Xbox 360, the main character meets a portly computer programmer named Norton Mapes who wears a large belt buckle engraved with the letters "RTFM". In addition, Mapes comes off as brash and condescending.

See also

References

  1. ^ Telling people to use "Google," to "RTFM," or "Use the search feature"—LinuxQuestions.org
  2. ^ Please point to the right "M" so I can "RTFM" — LinuxQuestions.org
  3. ^ Forum Policies and Expectations — Ubuntu Forums
  4. ^ "Newbie subspecies" — thread on LinuxQuestions.org
  5. ^ "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way" — Eric Steven Raymond
  6. ^ User Interface Design for Programmers - Chapter 6: Designing for People Who Have Better Things To Do With Their Lives
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