[Ubuntu-be] Ubuntu support points map - a little test

Marc marcsje at fulladsl.be
Sat Jul 18 19:04:04 BST 2009


Jurgen Gaeremyn schreef:

Ik heb Jan C akl gevraagd me van ub be te schrappen.

ik heb daar niks verloren ...

ik zie geen racisme in fr, dus ..

Marc



> Hi,
> (I've put the people who replied to this poll in BCC - I apologize if 
> you get this message twice)
>
> I did a little experiment with the Ubuntu Support points map: On July 
> 13, between 21:45 and 21:50 I sent a mail to 27 points on the map 
> asking for help on installing Ubuntu in dual boot. At the end of the 
> posting, you'll be finding a more detailed output.
>
> Here's my impression: this could be a great tool! The members who do 
> respond, are very motivated and like to help out. The active 
> volunteers love helping out and are quite effective in it (according 
> to their own judgement) Too bad that more than half of the volunteers 
> didn't even answer (possibly, some of them are away for holidays).
>
> The support map could be of a serious added value (talk about it on 
> the Dipro fairs, refer people to that map if you give them a CD or 
> some information... it definitely lowers the threshold to give it a 
> try) but the support point should have to be able to:
>
>     * disable them temporarily (holiday/exams mode)
>     * remove themselves
>     * easily find a spot to find/add support info
>
> It could surely a perfect community-based "first line support". For 
> help with more advanced issues, possibly a second level of support 
> would be great (so you can help people out by sending them to an 
> expert level... possibly including some paying services like Canonical 
> support)
>
> My impression was consolidated that if we want to efficiently use this 
> support map, we need to be quite confident that people are getting at 
> least a reply when counting on the Ubuntu-be support map. Here's my 
> suggestions:
>
>     * All existing members get a mail with a "reactivation link" (or
>       something similar) that needs to be clicked on te remain on the
>       list. Possibly this would be a nice moment to ask some
>       additional information (opt-in to a possible future announcement
>       list? - see further)
>     * Maybe each request could have an additional (f.e. 1 week
>       delayed) automatic mail asking the initial user if they got an
>       answer to their question. Not sure about the technical
>       feasibility of this...
>
>
> The opinions about the mailinglist are mixed: some see it as a 
> "wealthy source of information" ... others get annoyed by the plethora 
> of different levels of discussion. Possibly, there should be a 
> distinction between a more low-traffic announcement-list (sending 
> reports from IRC-meetings, information, ... in a moderated and more 
> top-down fashion) and the current existing discussion-list. Many hope 
> for the first and drown in the latter.
>
> A few weeks ago there was a discussion about abusing the volunteers by 
> sending them an unsollicited bulk e-mail... well, unless I was 
> completely fooled: every single person who answered to my question was 
> glad getting some interest and liked to be noticed as a volunteer. Not 
> a single person sounded bothered by this initiative.
>
> Friendly regards,
> Jurgen.
>
> Here are the factual results:
>
> /*1. Speed of response*/
>
>     * 4 persons answered that same day
>     * 6 persons answered the next day
>     * 2 persons answered July 15
>     * 15 persons didn't answer yet
>
> /*2. Type of answer (of 12 active ones)*/
>
>     * 1 person answered not having time anymore (studies)
>     * 6 persons asked where I live - and would then help
>     * 5 persons already gave some advice, and would also help if
>       needed (1 by searching for a lug in my area)
>
>
> I replied these persons that this was actually a test. I also asked 
> them a few questions.
>
> /*3. Reactions towards the test*/
>
>     * 11 persons answered the questions
>     * 7 persons even thought this was a good idea or that it was only
>       normal this happened
>     * 1 of them suspected it to be a test (followed the mailinglist)
>     * 1 person did not reply anymore
>
> /*4. Answers to the questions
> */
>
>     A. Did people contact you in the past through the Ubuntu support map?
>
>         * I got Ubuntu related questions regularly, and could answer
>           most of them.
>         * I get support requests through the Ubuntu support map every
>           now and then, but feel I'm pretty much on my own with them.
>           I'm missing a decent structure inside Ubuntu-be.
>         * Defenitely, I think about 5 times. In my experience people
>           often get in touch for a CD but if you lead them to the
>           right how-to's, they dare try it themselves too (which gives
>           them a good feeling if they succeed too -> self confidence).
>           If I could give some advice: maybe you could create a
>           wiki-page that could get sent to all support points once a
>           year containing support tips (which they could then append).
>           f.e.: how to download - burn a CD.
>         * I've been doing this a few years now, and have lead several
>           people 'on the right path'
>         * Yes, but only very little. I've been on the map for several
>           years, but only got a 5-some requests.
>         * Yes, twice of which one successfully.
>         * Not exactly I am a GNU/Linux's old user and usualy I give help.
>         * Yes. Your request was the 4th. I always answered
>           immediately. I could get in touch with one of them in
>           person, the other 2 remained without response.
>         * I have been contacted frequently in the past and have always
>           taken responsibility.
>         * Yes, about 4 times I think.
>
>     B. Do you feel enough envolved in Ubuntu-be (f.e. would you like
>     to recieve a mail every now and then?)
>
>         * I think so - I don't know what you the mail could possibly
>           tell me. This doesn't mean I would oppose.
>         * I have a good friendt with whom I organized release parties
>           in the past. My partaking in Ubuntu-be is very little at the
>           moment, mainly because of the quarrels ("hele hoop heisa")
>           on Ubuntu-nl and because of the lack of organisation and
>           support from Ubuntu-be. I would be glad to commit further
>           and help support the volunteer base if the structure would
>           improve.
>         * I'm on the mailing list, but I would like to feel more involved
>         * Yes I do. I'm subscribed to the newsletter, but I prefer to
>           stay on the background.
>         * Messages can't hurt, but the mailinglist seems to do a good
>           job here.
>         * I would like that, even if it's about Linux Mint (which I
>           like as much)
>         * Maybe not but in GNU/Linux Yes
>         * I try following the mailinglist. That's definitely enough
>           information for me.
>         * I feel envolved enough. Actually I don't want to get
>           involved much deeper as it starts handling tiny
>           ("pietluttige") topics. I prefer standing out there on the
>           field.
>         * As a matter of fact, I'm on that list to help out people -
>           and that's it. It would indeed be appreciated if we would
>           recieve a little mail every now and then.
>
>     C. Do you have contact with other Ubuntu users in your area?
>
>         * Yes, but I already knew them before I knew they used Ubuntu
>         * I'm working as developer on an Ubuntu system. If you count
>           my colleagues: yes. :)
>         * No, but I also don't feel the need.
>         * Yes, I'm member of HCC and L2U, also our company works
>           purely on Linux (gentoo, but it's linux: www.easics.com )
>         * no
>         * Yes I have some contacts in diferent LUG Belgian and French
>         * Yes and no. I have a few friends unsing GNU/Linux (and
>           sometimes Ubuntu) but not real Ubunteros
>         * I keep in touch through Dipro fairs with volunteers from the
>           Ghent region and with the regulars. Furthermore, plenty of
>           my friends use Ubuntu and obviously I see them regularly too.
>         * None at all...
>
>     D. Would you like to recieve information about (and possibly be
>     asked for lending a hand in) events in your area?
>
>         * I don't think very much is going on in my area (and I
>           wouldn't have time to help either)
>         * Obviously. Last year I helped a little (fosdem 8.04 -
>           Hasselt Release Party) but due to working on the house, I'm
>           on none active for the moment. From September forward, I'm
>           planning to jump on the wagon again.
>         * No, I think it's enough to be a support point.
>         * I'm invited through the mailinglist, the IRC-meetings and
>           the reports of the those meetings
>         * I had to help some friends to made their own LUG in
>           Anderlues; I'll join mine and invite some others in semptember.
>         * Defenitely. Unfortunately I don't have much time to help
>           out, but being able to talk about these events with my
>           family and friends is important too.
>         * I really enjoy helping on events and it's a very fun way to
>           be in touch with other ubuntu-be volunteers. I was very
>           sorry I couldn't make it to the last Ubuntu Release party in
>           Ghent.
>         * If I'd be available, I'd surely attend.
>
>     E. Did you try to remove yourself from the list? (to the person
>     saying not having anymore time)
>
>         * I don't feel the need for that. If persons ask specific
>           questions, I try answering those by mail. For main questions
>           (like the one you asked), I decline the requests.
>
> /*5. Additional comments */
>
>     * Organize some kind of "general meeting" at a central place in
>       Belgium (f.e. the geographical center of Belgium:
>       http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geografisch_middelpunt_van_België)
>     * I'm active in 2 school parent boards. I try giving a
>       demonstration every year and also invite the ICT-coordinator. I
>       think this is the key to spreading Linux (Ubuntu): less
>       licensing fees. If we can convince schools, you get an extra
>       1000-some new users per school. We should try participating in
>       the "ICT dagen" (http://ictdag.be - the next one is on January
>       10, 2010)
>     * I'm also member of the mailing list and followed the discussion
>       with little interest. It might sound harsh but I think there's
>       too much mails about stupid subjects. Sometimes I experience the
>       ubuntu-be mailinglist as a spam mailinglist. I have been helping
>       on Dipro fairs in Ghent for 5 years and find  this much more
>       important than discussions about "the language of the
>       mailinglist" etc...
>


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