1RTFM(1) User Commands RTFM(1) 2 3NAME 4 rtfm - read the fscking manual 5 6SYNOPSIS 7 rtfm [ -index | +chapter | +page ] manual 8 9DESCRIPTION 10 rtfm is a means by which answers to questions can be found 11 without interrupting other users or other already running 12 processes. 13 14 rtfm can be useful to anyone needing an answer to a question 15 or a clarification on almost any subject. It can also be 16 useful to anyone who wishes to offer similar information to 17 others in advance of their own questions without providing 18 the entire text to them. 19 20 Once used, rtfm imparts knowledge upon the user based on the 21 manual referenced. Depending on the user's retention for 22 knowledge, rtfm may not be required again on that subject 23 for several minutes or many years. 24 25OPTIONS 26 -index 27 start at the reference index to compute the proper page 28 +chapter, +page 29 start at the given chapter or page number. 30 31OPERANDS 32 manual 33 The reference device to use. If no manual is given, 34 the process will attempt to access the default device. 35 If the default device contains no information or is not 36 found, the process will attempt to invoke a think(1) 37 command at the system level for clarification. 38 39FILES 40 /dev/brain 41 The default device. This file often loses information 42 over time but its rate of decay is inconsistent. The 43 use of rtfm often increases the store of information in 44 the device or reaffirms information already stored. 45 Failure to use rtfm over extended periods can severely 46 depelete the amount and length of retention. 47 48WARNINGS 49 Use of rtfm on those without a sense of humour may result in 50 excessive corrections to the user's mindset. To remedy such 51 annoyances, the use of lart(1) is strongly recommended. 52 53SEE ALSO 54 think(1), lart(1) 55 56HISTORY 57 rtfm(1) was first written as a response to a rather weak 58 Oracularity question. The author felt that this was somehow 59 apropos. As such, its original appearance was edited for a 60 general audience. 61 62AUTHOR 63 rtfm(1) was originally written by D. Joseph Creighton, 64 <djc@cc.umanitoba.ca> and was based on the man pages created 65 for the alt.sysadmin.recovery man page collection. 66 67