I tend to take a middle road with "newbie" questions. I don't mind answering them when the chance arises, but I also like to let them know that there is a search capability. And that searching opens one to a lot more information than just asking the question.

So I tend to answer the question and then let the poster know that they can find more information by searching for themselves.

I do agree with the OP that there are definitely some forums that are more, lets say brusque, with their answers. Personally, I think the use of sarcasm in answering a new FTers question is almost always uncalled for. It will usually be taken by the OP as an attack. And will quite often then degrade the thread into a "namecalling" match.