And those waves are synchronous with academic cycles in various parts of the world.

Yes, I know people have to pay for internet access, and, no, I harbor no animosity toward anyone anywhere, least of all on the basis of race, ethnicity, or any other aspect of their person. I do have some animosity toward persons who think asking someone else to do their work is the correct solution to getting their education, however. Oddly enough, I don't, as much, mind someone asking me to do part of their job at work, but I strongly object to students' efforts to skip any part of their education process. Doing the research is part of that task, and searching the internet, while not "free" of cost, is a shortcut. When I was in school, many, Many, years ago, we didn't have the internet, and, in fact, I believe that I now have more computing power in my home than existed in the entire world back then. When we were assigned a task, we had to find resources we could study and proceed with our research and analysis from there.

Now, I'm not trying to start one of those "we had to walk 20 miles uphill both ways, in 3 feet of snow ..." stories, but I'd point out that the internet is a convenience and not a necessity. The materials needed for students are all avaiable in libraries as well as on line. If students prefer to sit in an internet cafe to do their homework, then it's up to them to bear the cost.

The internet is a convenience, however, and not a necessity. It may seem necessary, in the sense that it is used by some of the students, but it is not.

It is important that students learn the process. Eventually, they'll be required to perform tasks about which an internet search will yield nothing. If they have never done the research without the internet resources, they'll fall flat, unable to proceed. Education is about the process, and not so much about the details. What details you learn in order to pass your final examinations are essentially obsolete by the time you get your diploma. What you learn about the process of reaching a solution, however, is of value throughout your entire life, and not only in your professional life.

It's easy to become "swept away" by the convenience, and, yes, the glamour, of popping open the notebook computer and going on line. However, that's seldom the best solution. It shouldn't be ruled out, but it's seldom the best, and it's never the only solution. It's just a shortcut.

It doesn't offend anyone on 8052.COM to answer a well-thought-out question about a specific item. However, it's very annoying to have someone come along and ask the same question someone else asked last month or last semester, clearly having done no basic investigation into the nature of the problem. It's often clear that the inquiror hasn't even read his/her textbook.

The remark has already been made, that, often enough, there's only one post from a "newbie." If the newbie had done a search, he/she would have had an answer to their question, in most cases, immediately, rather than after having to wait for a reply which, often enough, doesn't come until after the homework is due.

Does that shed any light at all on my position on this matter?

I've no problem with thoughtful questions. It's the absence of thought, and the lack of effort that annoys me.

RE