[NTLUG:Discuss] NTLUG veterans helping Linux newbies?

[Chris Cox]

And...perhaps as an ongoing thing....we set aside every 3rd
meeting to do these kind of beginner focused settings....

We might be able to leverage Ray's/other's/LDP's notes as intro
material in the groups.

Ahh the growing pains!!  A good pain to have...
Chris

Kendall Clark wrote:
> 
> NTLUGGERs,
> 
> I'm attaching a message that is, I think, pretty representative of
> lots of NTLUG/Linux newbies.
> 
> The Problem
> -----------
> This is especially to you all who consider yourselves a Linux (and
> NTLUG) veteran: are we doing enough to help the newbies among us? I
> know the ewbies meeting is well-attended, but should we spend a few
> months doing nothing at our meetings but breaking up into small
> groups, with say 5 to 7 newbies per 1 or 2 veterans and just going
> through basic stuff? We have a core group -- basically the members of
> the discuss list -- of about 100 to 200 intermediate to expert-level
> users/admin-types.
> 
> Maybe we should plan an all-out assult to move several hundred raw
> newbies to 'basic competent user' status?
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Best,
> 
> Kendall Clark
> 
>   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Can't get the hang of Linux
> Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 15:05:11 GMT
> From: sjd at mail.org (Scott Davis)
> To: kclark at ntlug.org
> 
> Below is the result of your feedback form.  It was submitted by
> Scott Davis (sjd at mail.org) on Monday, February 21, 2000 at 15:05:11
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> email: sjd at mail.org
> 
> realname: Scott Davis
> 
> subject: Can't get the hang of Linux
> 
> comment: I have boxes of Linux documentation (literally!) and I still
> can't seem to get a "feel" for where everything is and how to
> really use Linux. I had pretty good luck with an ancient copy
> of Slackware on a 486 box, but never could get my new modem to
> work, and X won't run anymore.
> 
> Now I have a new box with SuSE. I moved the modem to the new
> box, dialed the ISP, but couldn't get DNS to work. And my
> printer doesn't work either.
> 
> I kind of need a guru to help get things going and help me
> understand how to administer the system. I'm just frustrated
> that with my experience with computers, a mound of information,
> and a brand spanking new system I still can't get a feel for how
> this all fits together. Maybe I just don't have a knack for
> learning from a book, or maybe my brain just doesn't work right.
> 
> I've tried LINT, but can't really get enough hands-on time, and
> every NTLUG member is as new as I am. Maybe I'm just missing
> something, but I really want to move to guru status myself,
> and just don't know where to turn. Can you suggest somewhere
> I can get more hands-on help, or a trainer that can give me
> some one-on-one instruction? I really want to make Linux work
> for me.
> 
> Scott Davis
> sjd at mail.org
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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