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Subject: Re: Newbie optimization problem
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:59:08 +0000 (UTC)
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"D. Ismay" 

> The OP wrote, and I quote:
> 
> "I am completely new to MatLab, and I have never actually
taken a class in linear algebra, either, so my question is
probably pretty 
> elementary."
> 
> Given this, the reply was entirely reasonable.  The
self-described newbie's next-best choice was to whine about
his circumstance in 
> a public newsgroup.  Seems to me he got everything he wanted.

D., I only gave this preface to let people know where I am.
 I'm a beginner.  That means that I may be missing something
that is obvious to more experienced people, and such
information might help other posters know how to frame their
answers.

But my question was not, "Can someone teach me linear
algebra?" or "How do you use MatLab?"  Rather, it was a very
specific and straightforward question about how to perform
an optimization in a way that I had not seen described in
any documentation.  And Amir was kind enough to give me a
very straightforward answer.

In other words, your reply was not reasonable, because it
didn't address the actual question.  I honestly understand
the impulse to be annoyed with people who post vague,
unanswerable questions, but if you are going to appoint
yourself as the newsgroup sheriff so you can run those
people out of town, you should pay attention to what
questions are actually being asked.

Or was your point simply that beginners are not welcome here?

Barry