<Skilless15> what's rtfm
<Skilless15> i forgot
<@avaxx> read the fucking manual.
<Skilless15> why
<Skilless15> you could just tell me
<Skilless15> i forgot
<@avaxx> read the fucking manual.
<Skilless15> why
<Skilless15> you could just tell me
by nekholm November 19, 2003
Literally "Read The F**king Manual"; a term showing the frustration of being bothered with questions so trivial that the asker could have quickly figured out the answer on their own with minimal effort, usually by reading readily-available documents. People who say "RTFM!" might be considered rude, but the true rude ones are the annoying people who take absolutely no self-responibility and expect to have all the answers handed to them personally.
"Damn, that's the twelveth time that somebody posted this question to the messageboard today! RTFM, already!"
by Bill M. July 28, 2004
The Commandments of Technology
1. Thou shalt read the fucking manual.
2. Thou shalt treat technology with care and love.
3. Thou may covet thy neighbor's technology, but thou shalt not steal it.
1. Thou shalt read the fucking manual.
2. Thou shalt treat technology with care and love.
3. Thou may covet thy neighbor's technology, but thou shalt not steal it.
by Scott Lanway September 3, 2004
Proponents of such acronyms encouraging new users to look the information up themselves are often discouraging questions that could easily be answered using the FAQs, Wiki or Google.
RTFM frequents questions that common sense should have precluded asking.
Some may choose to reply in this fashion rather than leaving the newbie without a response so as to clarify what types of questions are considered inappropriate, unintelligent or inconsiderate of others' time.
originally: "read the field manual" used by WWII soldiers when asked basic questions by new enlistees.
rtfm quickly spread to engineering, computer & technical fields, and has gained popularity with internet usage.
its applicability has increased dramatically with the advent of wiki, where the answer is already at everyone's fingertips.
RTFM frequents questions that common sense should have precluded asking.
Some may choose to reply in this fashion rather than leaving the newbie without a response so as to clarify what types of questions are considered inappropriate, unintelligent or inconsiderate of others' time.
originally: "read the field manual" used by WWII soldiers when asked basic questions by new enlistees.
rtfm quickly spread to engineering, computer & technical fields, and has gained popularity with internet usage.
its applicability has increased dramatically with the advent of wiki, where the answer is already at everyone's fingertips.
then:
rookie: how am i supposed to clean this m1?
veteran: read the field manual.
now:
noob: how do i install linux?
1337: rtfm @ linux.org/docs/beginner/install.html
polite usage that will increase likelihood of a helpful response:
newbie: how do i...? i have already rtfm.
rookie: how am i supposed to clean this m1?
veteran: read the field manual.
now:
noob: how do i install linux?
1337: rtfm @ linux.org/docs/beginner/install.html
polite usage that will increase likelihood of a helpful response:
newbie: how do i...? i have already rtfm.
by kajiem January 3, 2010
A reply to when people go on internet message boards asking for technical advice on subjects where the obvious solution is usually given in products user manual:
"why is my printer speaking in German?"
"RTFM ;o)"
"Why wont my scanner work?"
"RTFM!!"
"why is my printer speaking in German?"
"RTFM ;o)"
"Why wont my scanner work?"
"RTFM!!"
by DeusBrackers October 14, 2005
"Read the fucking manual." The most obvious solution to most tech problems. Also the most overlooked solution.
by Maerc January 13, 2005
Read. The. Fucking. Manual.
Popular saying amoungst engineers
A coomon miscoception is that the word originated from the internet. This word however has been around as long as there have been engineers, or at least as long as there have been electrical apliances.
Popular saying amoungst engineers
A coomon miscoception is that the word originated from the internet. This word however has been around as long as there have been engineers, or at least as long as there have been electrical apliances.
Idiot: How do I install Windows?
Engineer: RTFM.
Idiot: Whaaa?
Engineer: RTFM!!! It's right there in the Box!!!
Idiot: All I see is the manual, where's the RTFM?
Engineer: RAGE!!!
*Grabs Monitor and viciously beats down on idiot with it*
Engineer: RTFM.
Idiot: Whaaa?
Engineer: RTFM!!! It's right there in the Box!!!
Idiot: All I see is the manual, where's the RTFM?
Engineer: RAGE!!!
*Grabs Monitor and viciously beats down on idiot with it*
by Riim Jobs January 25, 2009