Read the man pages, even better, Re-Read them, later

[Chris Bennett]

A good while ago, learning step by step how to do new, useful things, I 
added spamd.
I was very pleased with the results.
I had carefully read the man pages and some other pages about spamd.
At the time, I got most of it, but I did not really understand a few points.
Oh, well. It worked anyway.

Over time, incoming spam has gotten worse. I have spent lots of time 
watching stuff passing through spamd.
Kept seeing the same, no longer existing, email address being hit.

So I had new, extra interest in problem. Finally I wanted to make a 
change, needed to read man page to remember how.
Lo and Behold! Those things I did not understand earlier, now with some 
experience, were quite clear!
Not only did I make the change I was trying to do, but I immediately saw 
I had messed up my setup originally (only slightly, but still not the best).

Lesson: (my particular example is not really important)
Not only are the man pages very complete, there is a real value in a 
second or third glance at some later date.

The man pages however, are not always the best tutor, but they are the 
first stop and occasionally a real bonus to look at again, even a few 
years later.

Chris Bennett

-- 
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders,
give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new
problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight
efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
   -- Robert Heinlein