Specifically I have lived your anecdote. Early aughts, I was in highschool at the time and asked that C channel for some advice building my first 2D RPG game in C (was using BASIC, then Pascal/Delphi before this). Literally got the exact response "we're not going to do your homework for you" when all I was asking was for some direction (libraries etc) + any existing example projects that I could read.
Honestly, I find that most highly technical people are miserable and not very receptive to helping someone learn the ropes. The majority of the peers I've worked with would rather isolate and protect their work, rather than to work collaboratively - and, I 100% get it. I've seen so many people thrown under a bus just for asking simple questions in regards to their solution. Unfairly so.