[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Distro

[Wayne Dahl]

On Mon, 2003-03-10 at 15:40, TJ Davis wrote:

> It seems sad to me that people would make a big deal out of something so
> small.  You guys are the first group of actual humans (not just aliases in
> forums) that I have interacted with in my Linux journey and so far I am not
> at all impressed because most of you are VERY rude and not even slightly
> friendly.  There are a few exceptions because I really respect some of you
> such as Chris Cox and Reverend Wry.  It is too late for me but maybe in the
> future you should consider being a little nicer to folks if you want to
> persuade people that Linux is actually a descent option.  Being a jerk who
> thinks he knows everything is no way to impress anyone.  Unfortunately that
> is the view that I have of most people on this list.  I guess I will see how
> friendly some of the other LUGs are.

TJ,

I'm sorry you feel that way, but I can say I sort of understand it.  I'm
a Linux newbie, hate M$ and want an alternative.  I have not gotten
answers to all of my questions from the people on this list, but
honestly, if anyone expects one resource to answer every possible
question (and actually finds one that does...I WANT access to THAT
resource!), then they're barking up the wrong tree.  

I have a lot of questions about doing things using a GUI.  I don't get
many answers from the guys on this list because most of the guys on this
list live on the CLI.  At least, that's what someone from the list
posted to me one day in response to some question I had that I never got
a response to.  That could be taken as rude (i.e., no response), but it
could also mean that just no one has an answer.

One thing I would recommend to the people on this list is, if you want
people who come from a M$ background to ever accept Linux as a viable
desktop OS, then you should get up to speed on doing things via GUI
because that's all 90% of M$ users know.  That may not be technical
enough, but let's face it, 90% of the M$ users out there don't even know
how to really use the M$ stuff, much less something based on Linux or
any other OS.  I think of my folks...they know so little about their
computer, my brother has PCAnywhere loaded on it so if they break
something, he can dial into it and fix it remotely (they live in
Oklahoma, we both live in the D/FW area).  And don't tell me people like
that shouldn't be using Linux.  Perhaps not, but isn't the goal to
provide an alternative to even non-computer-literate people so they
don't have to keep paying for M$ bloatware every time Redmond decides
they need to soak the little people?  <rant mode off>

One thing I've found helpful is to check the home pages for other
resources, like Sawfish, Enlightenment, Gnome, KDE, Samba, Wine,
etc...and sign up for the appropriate email lists for what I need and
answers for what I'm trying to do.  I've also checked the Usenet (or
whatever they're calling it now...I hardly use it though) using Pan.  
One thing I've found out is, you're going to see a lot of stuff not
related to anything you're doing, but if you have a question, ask it.  I
had screwed up my normal login account by selecting Enlightenment as the
WM and then went back to Gnome before logging out...and then couldn't
log back in again.  Kept getting some error about some file Enlightment
couldn't find.  I asked here, got no help...not that that's really a
problem as this may not have been the best place to ask.  I joined a
list specifically for Enlightenment users support and actually didn't
get the answer there either.  One thing I'm not afraid to do (most of
the time) is diddle with something...and I actually found the answer to
my problem myself.

One thing...I'm not sure about etiquette on this list, but on others
this is appropriate...if you get an answer...even if it didn't come from
here, but you asked about it here, post your solution as there may be
others on the list having the same problem who haven't said anything. 
I've been too lax about doing that myself, but will try to pay closer
attention to it in the future.

Guys, don't take this post as a slap on the hand about how you sound or
post, but I can understand TJ's feeling.  This IS a Linux Users Group
list and there are always going to be varying experience levels on it. 
As such, we should always want to help (as much as possible) the people
new to the OS so we can really provide an alternative to those people
who hate the Redmond monster.

TJ, if you're still there, and would like some information about other 
email lists specific to a particular product, app or problem, let me
know and I'll send you the info I have about them.  I'm on several.  Be
warned, however...some generate a LOT of mail and most of it you won't
care anything about.

Thanks guys...and I really DO appreciate the help I've gotten from you
in the past.

Wayne