9.9. WAIT

Minimize the number and size of datasets involved. If peculiar data are required and your data are complicated, large and/or proprietary, then make up some data that exhibits the problem.

Often the process of making a minimal example reveals the problem. If the problem does not reveal itself, then keep these hints in mind:

Make your example easy to cut and paste. The dput function is sometimes useful for this.

If the example involves random numbers, then use set.seed to make the numbers non-random.

Using data that comes with R is often the easiest for your readers.

Format the code to be easy to understand|the space bar is an excellent resource.

Your minimal, self-contained example should never ever include a line of code like:

rm(list=ls())

There's a special special place for those who try to lull their would-be helpers into destroying their data.

It can not be emphasized enough that a message is putting yourself at the mercy of strangers. If someone has the wit and knowledge to answer your question, they probably have other things they would like to do. Making your message clear, concise and user-friendly gives you the best hope of at least one of those strangers diverting their attention away from their life towards your problem.

9.9Wait

Don't send the message immediately. Wait some amount of time|at least 1 hour, at most 1.7348 days. Leave the room you're in.

Now reread the message from a typical list member's point of view. The answer may become apparent. More likely you may see how the question could be made more clear. Add information that only you know but which the message assumes the reader knows. Imagine yourself going through all of the steps of your problem from the beginning.

Send the message in plain text, not html.

Only send the message once. Just because you don't immediately see your message on the list does not mean it didn't go through. Seeing the same message multiple times annoys people and reduces the chances they will answer you. There seems to be positive correlation between a person's level of annoyance at this and ability to answer questions.

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Postscript

irgil and I came upon the road leading to the bright world. We climbed through an opening to see once again the stars.

Most of this was stolen from the archives of R-help (thieves are consigned to Circle 9 [page 115], as you'll recall). Thanks go to Tim Triche, Jr. and especially Mark Di ord for help with the table of contents and the index, and for wellplaced prods. Mark's version of the source document went through an inferno of its own.

What spark of life there may be in these scribblings is due largely to the contributors of R-help, and to Beatrice.

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