RTFM

From Wikinfo

RTFM is an initialism for the statement "Read The Fucking Manual". This instruction is usually given in response to a question which the responder knows or believes can be answered easily by reading relevant documentation, and suggests that the inquirer may be wasting people's time.

In computer technical support it also commonly refers to "Reboot The Fucking Machine," an aptly prescribed first line of troubleshooting that has been widely recognized to solve a great majority of computer problems. It implies exasperation at minimal problem-solving initiative.

To avoid the use of the expletive "fucking" in the statement (which is offensive to some people), the "F" is often translated to another adjective, such as "Freaking", "Full", "Fine", "Friendly", "Fabulous", or "Fascinating". Alternatively, the "F" can be dropped entirely and the initialism rendered as "RTM" (Read The Manual).

Related Terms

Other derivatives of this expression found in hacker slang or internet slang include:

RTFS: "Read The Fucking Source" or "Read The Fucking Specification")
RTDM: "Read The Damn/Darn Manual"
RYFM: "Read Your Fucking Manual"
RTFB: "Read The Fucking Binary"
RTFA: "Read The Fucking Article" - commonly used on Slashdot and usually said to someone who has posted a comment that makes it clear he has not actually read the relevant article.
TFA: "The Fucking Article" - also commonly used on Slashdot to refer to the article in question.
STFW: "Search The Fucking Web" - first seen on Usenet in 1996
UTFG: "Use The Fucking Google" - more politely GIYF or "Google is your friend"
RTFFAQ: "Read The Fucking FAQ" (sometimes shortened to RTFF)

UTSL: "Use the Source, Luke" A parody on the popular Star Wars line.

These versions are less pejorative than RTFM and used in a humorous sense, as it is assumed that it was the developer's fault for not providing documentation � in particular RTFB is used to indicate that a program is so ancient or poorly documented that the only way to work out what it does is by examining the machine code.

In some Commonwealth countries, a few hackers prefer to use RTBM or "Read The Bloody Manual" as an initial reply. If the discussion escalates, RTFMs are used to reply.

In collectible card games, notably Magic: The Gathering, RTFC ("Read The Fucking Card") is used when someone expresses uncertainty about how a card works.

There is also a French magazine titled RTFM - Read That Friendly Magazine. It costs 3.5? in Metropolitan France and contains computer jokes and stickers.

Criticism

Critics would say that frequent users of the phrase (or similar sentiments) are simply expressing elitism, and that their attitude drives away newcomers without helping them. Their time could better be spent adding the question to a FAQ, pointing the user to a helpful website, or simply not responding. One of the most frequent criticisms of the open source community (where this initialism is often found), is lack of friendly support for newcomers. Some might respond to this criticism by citing the importance of the principle of trying to find answers on one's own before asking others for help. An Internet forum where users read the FAQ before posting their questions is more likely to have a better signal to noise ratio than one that is filled with repetitive postings, and hence is more likely to attract continued participation. When evaluating whether it is acceptable to express sentiments like RTFM, one must consider the trade-off between maintaining the usability of an Internet forum for its existing users, and making a forum welcoming to newcomers.

Some hackers have suggested[1] that in some situations it is actually the best advice that an aspiring hacker can receive. They posit that hacking is a dynamic art which requires independence and drive on the part of the hacker, and see "RTFM" as more of a long-term advisement than it is a response to any single query.