Don't you think using the word “harassed” here is begging the question? What does this “harassment” consist of exactly? Are the neophytes calling you at work?

Don't you think using the word “harassed” here is begging the question? What does this “harassment” consist of exactly? Are the neophytes calling you at work? Are they camping out on your front steps? Have they kidnapped your mother-in-law and won't release her until you tell them how to remove a character from a string? Get real. All they are doing is asking questions in an Internet discussion forum. EFnet #perl was on IRC. IRC clients have a mute function. If you feel that someone asking questions on IRC is “harassment”, use the mute function.