Re: [EXT]Re: TexWorks 2025 and Wiley NJDv5 Template Compile Problem

On Fri, Feb  6, 2026 at 15:46 (+0100), Alois Steindl wrote:


> Am 06.02.2026 um 14:40 schrieb Jim:
>> Contrariwise, if person XYZ privately emails me a question about subject
>> ABC, I would not go to the ABC mailing list / newsgroup / ... and say
>> "Hey everyone, XYZ asked this question: '...'".

>> Cheers.
>> Jim

> Why not? If you think, that the question and especially a helpful response
> would be beneficial for the participants, then forwarding the question to
> the group would be a good move.

My answer gets back to one of the earlier comments about whether someone's
question is intended for public viewing or not.  A particular person might
not want (for reasons that are important to him/her) to be seen publicly
asking that question.  I should respect that, even if I don't understand
the concern.

> In this group we obtain such questions frequently and that is perfectly
> fine.

It may be fine, depending on XYZ's feelings on the matter.  If I (or you or
anyone else) receive a question via "private" email and feel the answer
would be useful to some group at large, then I (or you or ...) could write
up a message for that group giving the question and the answer, without
identifying XYZ.  And maybe even asking XYZ in advance if they mind (in
cases where you can imagine that there might be some concern, such as it is
difficult to de-identify XYZ and still discuss the question).

> Of course, if you are more experienced than person XYZ you could also
> suggest/choose the proper forum and give useful hints how to state the
> question, like minimal example.

I agree fully: if someone could use a bit of information on how to best get
their question answered, providing that information is a nice thing to do.

And part of that information could be suggesting to the person that in many
newsgroups / mailing lists / web forums / ... it is not always considered
polite to ask people answering the (public) question to (privately) email
the answer to you.


In another recent message someone pointed out that new people are not
always treated as nicely as they could be.  I think that is a good thing
for everyone to keep in mind, especially in a group like this one that
(thank goodness!) transcends political, national, and many other divisions
that tend to separate people.

I read a newsgroup whose readership was decimated (quite a few years ago)
by two people who answered lot of questions, but did so in very abrasive
and obnoxious ways.  I'd hate to see that happen here, especially in light
of the fact that comp.text.tex has turned into a wasteland of LaTeX package
announcements.

Cheers.

                                Jim