Well, I've stated how I feel the ideal solution works before - you don't sugar-coat the fact that you think a normally intelligent human should be able to read/search for the relevant info, then help.

That said, I didn't say it's okay in my eyes to be so intentionally ignorant/inattentive as to not read a thread, or at least try to skim for relevant info (sometimes threads are massive). But if the demographic you're trying to change is defined by the fact that collectively they ask the same question repeatedly in the same thread, then that demographic isn't exactly likely to learn from an incident obscurely tucked away in the middle of one thread.

I'm not supporting the behavior of those who don't bother to at least read a couple of pages of the thread; I am just pointing out that the flaws in the way it was dealt with in this case.

Prob'ly. I've been thinking of making a thread about this event, actually, quoting the vi_ posts and then the guy saying "it hanged" (or whatever it was exactly), explaining what happened, and calling the entire thing "Moral for Newbs". Maybe it'd become a thing to link people who ask the same question that's already been answered to it sometime down the line.

- Edit -
You can get Google search of this site through this forum btw: Just use Power Search. It's in the top of the menu on the right above the recent posts list.