Sorry, tech companies of the world: I don't "RTFM"
Every time I come back from my local consumer electronics retailer and come back with a new digitoy, there's a thick user's manual inside.
And ever time I download and either unzip or execute some new software, there's a Read Me file therein.
Many is the occasion that I try to hook up the wrong cable to the wrong port, or finalize the software installation by going from Step C to Step N. That's when I get flustrated (my term for a combination of flustered and frustrated).
At this point I hear a loud voice in my head. Something someone told me awhile back.
And the voice sayeth:
"RTFM!!"
Huh-wa?
In the most polite of high society parlours, RTFM means Read The Fine Manual.
In less polite surroundings, with ladies present, RTFM means Read The Flippin' Manual.
In impolite environments where salty language is used .. you get the idea.
But I don't RTFM. I don't review README files either.
Three reasons:
Because manuals are in written form, it is hard to describe instructions when one course of action could lead to six different results. One, the right result, two the wrong result as a consequence of my operating system; two more the result of bugs in the product; one because of my "duh."
Because manuals are either in a printed or PDF form, they require me to do a lot of jumping back and forth between the pages they contain and the equipment I am trying to hook or program I am trying to install. Often, this means constantly toggling the center of my attention between one presentation form factor (dead-tree manual or PDF) and the actual product or program.
Finally, I am a guy. I don't ask for directions. And, I'm impatient.
If you are a vendor, I have a better idea about how to teach folks like me how to install and use your inspired creation.
Onscreen guided steps.
And each step should have a "I'm having a problem here" pop-up that would steer you toward self-diagnostic analysis about why step 4 just doesn't turn on the LED, or why your software installation is giving you a DLL error.
I don't RTFM. Do you?