"By all means remain anonymous[…]Advertisements […] and solicitations are not permitted on WILMOTT Forums"That is what we sign when we join.However I come accross more and more one-line posts of the kind:"the answer is in my book" (i.e just buy it and I'll be richer)or"check my article for your problem" (i.e see who I am and how smart I am)rather than a comprehensive answer to the pb so that everyone can learn.This is a bit disappointing.

Read the agreement again, it means you can choose to be anonymous. Many of us don't. Most senior memebers real names are generally known.My name is on my posts, indeed my choice of pub is publicly known for people to come and agree with me."check my article for your problem" (i.e see who I am and how smart I am)I've put posts up like that. People thank me for it.Maybe they think I'm smart, I have no problem with that.You need to think this one though. Just bcause someone writes something, does not mean they are at liberty to post it here., copyrights, and terms of employment see to that."the answer is in my book" (i.e just buy it and I'll be richer)The sort of person who writes this stuff rarely does it directly for the money. If you can write a good QF book, you can make far more from doing than writing.Have you ever written professionally ? I have, and trust me it takes more time than you think. A lot more.rather than a comprehensive answer to the pb so that everyone can learn.Again you need a little research here. Both Daniel and I have written any number of comprehensive answers, some of the stuff you find in the S/W forum is non trivial. The one you're complaining about was a bit terse, but it's a decent book. Frankly if you're asking that sort of question you do need to read a book with some STL in it. That doesn't make you dumb, but is a pointer for your next step.I don't speak for the owners of Wilmott.com, but I do speak to them.It's a judgement thing, some of the advice people get for free around here would be really rather expensive if bought by other means, so the owners have to work out whether someone is pushing themselves and getting a free ride, or whether they are a net contributor.Which would you count yourself as ?

Clopinette, that one can be a tough call. When we spot such things we do try to advise the guilty parties to be more forthcoming. In the end that is usually to their advantage. (Otherwise people do come away with exactly the impression you had, which is not very positive for them.)P

DCFC,"If you can write a good QF book, [...] it takes more time than you think. A lot more."--> precisely my point is that, if you don't do it for the money or for the fame, rather than a one-line post, take a couple of minutes to write an explaination. And, after may be, point to references for details."Frankly if you're asking that sort of question you do need to read a book with some STL in it"--> everyone has a speciality, STL is not mine as I did recognise it. Was I given a good reference book or paper for STL users? Nope. I happen to have that book by the way, it is not the one you need to learn about the STL." [...] so the owners have to work out whether someone is pushing themselves and getting a free ride, or whether they are a net contributor.Which would you count yourself as ? "--> I will let you count my one-line posts as an answer. Whenever I answer to a technical post I maintain that my answer is a comprehensive one so that everyone can learn

When answering questions, it can be quite hard to pitch at the right level, since of course one doesn't know the other person's knowledge base. Sometimes the best answer is "go and read X", since it requires too much to be put in a post.Was I given a good reference book or paper for STL users? You were given a good book reference, not quite sure what you mean.

I just meant that eventhough there is an overview about the STL, the book is mostly not about it. So it is not the one I would need to specifically learn about STL. I believe saying so is not criticizing the book.

>> I believe saying so is not criticizing the book. As a totally impartial observer I have to say that I thought the answer you were given was a bit glib - and didn't do much to sell me on the idea of buying the book. However I think you've made your point well (and it's one I agree with) but dwelling on it will soon start to be of marginal utility.