[HTC Amaze 4G] KnowledgeBroker:
This thread has remained interesting, but I want to throw out my two cents. Because of how people keep using the term NOOB, I would like to throw a different perspective out there. Note: This is probably a rant, but still kinda relevant.

First off, there are some of us who don't mind answering questions, no matter how many times it is asked. Sure, it can be frustrating to hear a question asked a million times, but the people who post "go SEARCH for the answer" forget that every time the question is asked, but an answer isn't given, creates more results when you do search that doesn't give an answer. In forums that have been around a while(like my old vibrant), a simple question like "how to root" isn't very easy to find unless it has been stickied because of how many times it has been asked, but not answered. Hint: HUNDREDS of results to sift thru.

Besides, it feels good to help people, the ones asking are usually new, and I would rather new users feel welcomed to the community rather than put off. You can't just assume anyone with a question is lazy, sometimes the "answers" you want them to search for aren't clear enough for someone totally new to the game. Sometimes it is putting together the answers that are in multiple different places together that gives someone the "eureka, I think I've got it" that some of us have been able to do ourselves. I've seen some newer FAQ type stickies attempting this, but they are in their infancy, and are not "one-stop answer threads" that really pull together the big picture. Yet at least.

Another HUGE point is that there are several kinds of people out there. There are the people who try to find their own answers, and know HOW to find answers effectively. Then there are people that want to find their own answers, but aren't as good at getting those results. Maybe they are new to the idea of doing something as in depth as we are used to. They have to start somewhere to make the transition. And yes, there are some people who are lazy, some who type like they don't know basic english(and not because they are foreign), who might say "howz do I roots my fone, tell me howz I do this in simple wayz"(I can't even type as blatantly ignorant as some of these people do!).. feel free to flame them, they will undoubtedly always depend on others for answers, and even a device as simple as the iPhone would be too complex for them!(haha ;))

But check this thread out, it really shows the POTENTIAL that users have of making the transition from total noob to.. something far more advanced. It was an experiment from the devs for the nook color. Most of the users in that thread are compiling their own build of ICS for their device. Some are contributing. A few may end up developing to some extent in the future. All because they were given at least the basic starting point to learn for themselves.

Sometimes that starting point is getting a device rooted without bricking it, or pointing them to a resource that has the answer they need and many others they WILL need.. without frustrating them or being rude to them by acting as if they don't know what the search button is.

I am NOT a noob, but in general it seems like many of the replies I have gotten from users in these forums when I DO ask a question, they make the assumption that I might be mildly retarded.(Bolded because this is really frustrating) And that is a turn off, probably for many people. I don't get upset, I realize that they don't know how experienced I might be.. but the idea that users on here assume someone asking a question is a noob and should be treated thus is not the way to go. How many users might avoid asking questions because they have seen that behavior. New users that may never again post. I have received multiple private messages for answering questions without treating them like this. Half the times people have clicked my thanks button is likely because of this.

I have noticed a predisposition for tech junkies to act elitist, many of whom aren't really that tech savvy in truth.. to be condescending, curt, or blatantly rude. Not just on XDA, but everywhere. Usually the people who are most knowledgeable are the ones who seem most understanding, considerate, patient.. and some maybe just forgot how big the gap is between where they are at and where someone new is at. But we can all benefit by being reminded of this.

Oh, and an awesome feature in that thread I posted a link to a bit ago..

I bolded the relevant part. I think that is creative, hiding the download link in a period, and hinting at the link in a block of text you'd actually have to read in order to be able to download the test build(until they linked the work later in development)..

God, I know some of my posts are long, but somewhere in this I think I got my point/rant across ;)