A newbie's needs are not necessarily as rational as a professional. Just like a child, they need to climb trees, though it may not be necessary in your opinion, just be supportive if you can. Of course a fall from a tree can be fatal, but IDE study is not.
Maybe the professor is asking the newbie to search for one, may be it is from some half understood statement from a book or a senior.
So instead of ripping apart his post, suggest in a polite language or ignore if you find the language poor.
Advice is based on risk, the only time I have been rude or cautious about other's postings is when someone not knowledgible (in my opinion) was working on very high voltage or train safety etc.
Which why the question of "without transformer.." can cause fatality and should be answered cautiously, or even rudely. But not the RS232, as has been asked here and well answered.