Jargon File (4.3.0, 30 APR 2001) [jargon]
RTFM /R-T-F-M/ imp. [Unix] Abbreviation for `Read The Fucking Manual'.
   1. Used by gurus to brush off questions they consider trivial or
   annoying. Compare Don't do that then!. 2. Used when reporting a
   problem to indicate that you aren't just asking out of randomness.
   "No, I can't figure out how to interface Unix to my toaster, and yes, I
   have RTFM." Unlike sense 1, this use is considered polite. See also
   FM, RTFAQ, RTFB, RTFS, STFW, RTM, all of which mutated from
   RTFM, and compare UTSL.
 The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (09 FEB 02) [foldoc]
RTFM
   <jargon> /R T F M/ Read The Fucking Manual (always
   abbreviated, sometimes bowdlerised to "- Fine -") An
   (unhelpful) guru's traditional response when someone asks a
   question in a newsgroup or mailing list which he could
   have easily answered for himself had he bothered to RTFM.
   The term may also be used to indicate that you couldn't find
   the answer in the manual.  E.g. "How do I interface Unix to my
   toaster?  And yes, I did RTFM but the FM didn't help and I
   can't RTFS."
   Derived forms include RTFAQ, RTFB, and RTM.  Compare:
   UTSL.
   [Earliest use?]
   [Jargon File]
   (2000-05-16)