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Re: Linux-IL FAQ Question
On Wed, 23 Oct 1996, Doron Zifrony wrote:
> As a Linux newbie myself (though a Unix veteran) I can understand those
> who fail to fully understand the Linux documentation to perform some tasks
> needed to be done, or configuring some devices.
I have been using Linux for several months but since I didn't have the
time to delve deeply into it, I am still sort of Linux newbie. So I too can
understand the predicament of other newbies.
> The Linux documentation is leaning towards experienced computer literates.
> Those people who are relatively new to the technology may need the advice
> of others,
I agree.
> and I think that for the time being this list can be used to
> assist them.
NO! NO!! NO!!! NO!!!! NO!!!!! NO!!!!!! NO!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!
The mailing list is THE WRONG MEDIUM for helping newbies. What they
really need is access to volunteers who can hold their hands, and to
Internet resources which have more friendly (dumbed down) information,
such as the Linux-IL WWW site and other sites from around the world.
> If and when a flood of questions starts flowing, perhaps a new
> mailing list will be in order (like comp.newsusers.questions in Usenet),
> where newbies could ask what some may define as "stupid questions" or
> "RTFM questions", and some kind people willing to help will help them.
This won't solve the problem. Newbies don't know which is the right
mailing list for their questions, so they'll post their questions to all
relevant mailing lists in random.
> So far I haven't seen the flood of questions that makes the creation of the
> new group essential.
Because Marc is there and apparently enough newbies are afraid of him to
prevent the dreadfully boring flood. (Thank you, Marc, for this job of
verbally abusing clueless newbies.)
> I certainly see no reason to use foul language against those asking questions,
> instead of assisting them (if only to point them towards the appropriate
> documentation). Use of such language can only serve to shame the one who uses
> it. After all, the point of having a mailing list is for copperation and
> exchange of information.
Mailing lists are appropriate for exchange of guru-level information.
For looking for information, a mailing list should be used only if you
don't know where to locate the answer to your question, or who might know
the answer to your question. Newbie questions don't fall under this
category.
Newbies should be served by other means. At the moment I am in
negotiations with Ariel Nowersztern about improving the greeting message
to new subscribers to the Linux-IL mailing list with intention of making
it easier for newbies to locate the appropriate newbie-level services our
group provides.
--- Omer
Internet E-mail: xlacha1@wizard.weizmann.ac.il
omerz@actcom.co.il
WWW home page: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/~xlacha1/
DEAF-L FAQ home page: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/deaf-info/
References: