RTFM: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Pink Bee m ce; +wl |
imported>Fluyt Corrections and added links. |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Initialism for "read the fucking manual"}} | {{Short description|Initialism for "read the fucking manual"}} | ||
{{Other uses}}'''RTFM''' is an [[initialism]] and [[internet slang]] for the expression "'''read the fucking manual'''" | {{Other uses}}'''RTFM''' is an [[initialism]] and [[internet slang]] for the expression "'''read the fucking manual'''", typically used to reply to a basic question where the answer is easily found in the [[documentation]], [[user guide]], [[owner's manual]], [[man page]], [[online help]], [[internet forum]], [[software documentation]] or [[FAQ]]. | ||
Usage is variously viewed as a pointed reminder of etiquette to try to find a solution before posting to a mass forum or email alias;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/paul/rtfm-no-seriously-r-t-f-m-then-ask-your-question/ |title=RTFM. No seriously, R.T.F.M. Then ask your question. |date=4 August 2011 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> helping a newer user (colloquially and demeaningly referred to as a [[noob]] within [[internet culture]]) to improve themselves;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/13211/read-the-fing-manual-rtfm |title=What is Read The F###ing Manual (RTFM)? |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> as a useless response;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/linux-and-open-source/rtfm-i-did-and-it-didnt-help/ |title=RTFM: I did, and it didn't help |date=19 November 2007 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> or as a hostile and elitist response.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://compassionatecoding.com/blog/2019/4/17/its-time-to-retire-rtfm |title=It's Time to Retire "RTFM" |date=17 April 2019 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> Polite usages would mention where one has looked when asking a question, and to provide an exact location or link where exactly to RTFM. | Usage is variously viewed as a pointed reminder of etiquette to try to find a solution before posting to a mass forum or email alias;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/paul/rtfm-no-seriously-r-t-f-m-then-ask-your-question/ |title=RTFM. No seriously, R.T.F.M. Then ask your question. |date=4 August 2011 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> helping a newer user (colloquially and demeaningly referred to as a [[noob]] within [[internet culture]]) to improve themselves;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/13211/read-the-fing-manual-rtfm |title=What is Read The F###ing Manual (RTFM)? |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> as a useless response;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/linux-and-open-source/rtfm-i-did-and-it-didnt-help/ |title=RTFM: I did, and it didn't help |date=19 November 2007 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> or as a hostile and elitist response.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://compassionatecoding.com/blog/2019/4/17/its-time-to-retire-rtfm |title=It's Time to Retire "RTFM" |date=17 April 2019 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> Polite usages would mention where one has looked when asking a question, and to provide an exact location or link where exactly to RTFM. | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
In [[expurgation|expurgated]] texts, substitutions such as "read the frickn' manual", "read the factory manual", "read the field manual", "read the flaming manual", "read the fine manual", "read the friendly manual", "read the [pause] manual" or similar variants are used.<ref>Howard, Michael, David LeBlanc, and [[John Viega]]. ''19 Deadly Sins of Software Security: Programming Flaws and How to Fix Them''. New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2005. {{ISBN|0-07-226085-8}}.</ref> | In [[expurgation|expurgated]] texts, substitutions such as "read the frickn' manual", "read the factory manual", "read the field manual", "read the flaming manual", "read the fine manual", "read the friendly manual", "read the [pause] manual" or similar variants are used.<ref>Howard, Michael, David LeBlanc, and [[John Viega]]. ''19 Deadly Sins of Software Security: Programming Flaws and How to Fix Them''. New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2005. {{ISBN|0-07-226085-8}}.</ref> | ||
If there is no appropriate content in the manual but the answer is frequently seen in the forum, a similar response in [[internet culture]] might be to [[ | If there is no appropriate content in the manual but the answer is frequently seen in the forum, a similar response in [[internet culture]] might be to "[[lurk moar]]", meaning to observe the forum for a time before asking questions. | ||
A related phrase is "let me [[Google Search|Google]] that for you" (LMGTFY). | A related phrase is "let me [[Google Search|Google]] that for you" (LMGTFY). In this case, the "manual" is the [[World Wide Web]], so one of several [[Search engine|search engines]] such as Google could be used to look up the answer. In many cases, doing so provides an answer in less time than it takes to ask someone else the question. The range of usage is similar to that for RTFM.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metatalk.metafilter.com/13526/Let-me-google-that-for-you |title=Let me google that for you |date=22 January 2007 |access-date=2023-09-17}}</ref> | ||
==List of similar initialisms== | ==List of similar initialisms== | ||
Revision as of 12:50, 24 June 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "other uses".RTFM is an initialism and internet slang for the expression "read the fucking manual", typically used to reply to a basic question where the answer is easily found in the documentation, user guide, owner's manual, man page, online help, internet forum, software documentation or FAQ.
Usage is variously viewed as a pointed reminder of etiquette to try to find a solution before posting to a mass forum or email alias;[1] helping a newer user (colloquially and demeaningly referred to as a noob within internet culture) to improve themselves;[2] as a useless response;[3] or as a hostile and elitist response.[4] Polite usages would mention where one has looked when asking a question, and to provide an exact location or link where exactly to RTFM.
In expurgated texts, substitutions such as "read the frickn' manual", "read the factory manual", "read the field manual", "read the flaming manual", "read the fine manual", "read the friendly manual", "read the [pause] manual" or similar variants are used.[5]
If there is no appropriate content in the manual but the answer is frequently seen in the forum, a similar response in internet culture might be to "lurk moar", meaning to observe the forum for a time before asking questions.
A related phrase is "let me Google that for you" (LMGTFY). In this case, the "manual" is the World Wide Web, so one of several search engines such as Google could be used to look up the answer. In many cases, doing so provides an answer in less time than it takes to ask someone else the question. The range of usage is similar to that for RTFM.[6]
List of similar initialisms
- Template:Visible anchor – "read the bloody manual"[7]
- Template:Visible anchor – "read the fucking question"[8]
- Template:Visible anchor – "read the fucking/featured article"– common on news forums such as Fark[9] and Slashdot, where using "TFA" instead of "the article" has become a memeScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Template:Visible anchor – "write a better manual" – an answer complaining that the manual is not written well[10]
- Template:Visible anchor – "read the fucking source" or "read the fucking standard" or "read the fucking syllabus"[11]
- Template:Visible anchor – "read the fucking binary"[12]
- Template:Visible anchor – "search the fucking web"[13]
See also
References
External links
- Template:Visible anchor – "read the bloody manual"[14]
de:Liste von Abkürzungen (Netzjargon)#R
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Howard, Michael, David LeBlanc, and John Viega. 19 Deadly Sins of Software Security: Programming Flaws and How to Fix Them. New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2005. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".