The forum is not really harsh to newbies. Its about the expectations that have been set for anyone who is old enough to visit the forum to know some basic things. For example, you don't have to be in the forum to know that copy and posting of other people intellectual assets without giving proper reference and acknowledgement is wrong. Its pure plagiarism that is frown at in every human gathering in the world.

Another case is by default you don't join a community or a new work place and start behaving the way you think its the right way to behave but rather you take your time to understand their way of life before trying to force yourself or else, you realise you are not welcomed. This is not different from what is interpreted as being harsh because they fail to read, there are sticky threads to help you get your feet but no attention is given to it, reputation, beginners and help and meta sections of the forum are there but they won't visit on service sections or bounty, digital accounts until they break a rule that could not be ignored then its concluded that the forum is harsh.