Technical support on the list [was Re: rogers rocket stick sierra 330U]

[Che]

Oh please...

Having used Linux since the VERY early days one of my MAJOR complaints
has always been the 'linux-geeks' who feel it is a. a waste of their
time and/or b. beneath them (by extension) to fully explain a solution.
That is the major reason Linux remains a marginal OS for most consumers
and plays right into the hands of Windows.

Now here, almost 20 years later, that attitude still lives.

Two unassailable truths exist:
- Linux will grow by the input from and adoption by everyday consumers
NOT geeks.
- Linux will never become more than a marginal OS until geeks get over
themselves.

Otherwise I might as well start making my replies on this list in
machine code.

Bah!

On Fri, 2012-09-14 at 13:10 -0400, Deryl R. Doucette wrote:
> Thats what google is for. Critical Thinking is partly Self-Education.
> No mailing list has the time to hold every user's hand and walk them
> point by point through every little detail. NO ONE told the user to
> install linux, THEY CHOSE to install it. So, now it is THEIR
> RESPONSIBILITY to put some time, effort, and research into what it is
> they chose to install/use. NOT the list's.
> 
> 
> Users can quite easily 'define: Linux' or some other search pattern in
> google and get an answer. If one has to stop and explain every little
> detail of an answer given the list would grind to a halt.
> 
> 
> The user themselves have a responsibility (if not to the community,
> then to themselves) to use a bit of grey matter, a bit of time, and a
> willingness to self educate.
> 
> --
> Deryl R. Doucette
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sep 14, 2012, at 10:43 AM, David M. Pelly wrote:
> 
> > Mathieu,
> > 
> > you have made very valid points.  Thank you for doing so. 
> > 
> > This list and user group meetings are both necessary. 
> > 
> > I would also like to clarify and point out to experienced Ubuntu
> > users who are giving advice, to explain in lay language what they
> > are explaining.
> > 
> > Almost always I am not able to understand the technical jargon and
> > acronyms being used.
> > 
> > 
> > In fact, I can't say I understood or fully understood one post where
> > something was explained,  since I got on here a couple of months
> > ago. 
> > 
> > To all explainers,  when you do explain something please remember
> > that you may know the person who asked the question and know his
> > level of experience.
> > 
> > But remember also remember he may not know or understand as much as
> > you think,  and that there are others who are beginners, who are not
> > the least bit familiar with the tech jargon and acronyms.
> > 
> > So; to all posters, if you are using jargon or acronyms of any kind,
> > always define and explain them clearly, in a way that a beginner
> > will understand what they mean and how they are used and what they
> > do. 
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > 
> > David 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:35:23 -0400
> > > Subject: Technical support on the list [was Re: rogers rocket
> > stick sierra 330U]
> > > From: mathieu-tl at ubuntu.com
> > > To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > 
> > > On Thu, Sep 13, 2012 at 6:47 PM, Kip Warner <kip at thevertigo.com>
> > wrote:
> > > [...]
> > > > Imagine that a new non-Ubuntu person is living in Canada and
> > just got
> > > > excited about Ubuntu. They Googled around and discovered there's
> > this
> > > > thing called "Ubuntu Canada". Cool! They have a mailing list
> > too.
> > > > Great!! So, they join up (subscribe), and start reading prior
> > posts to
> > > > get a feel for the state of Ubuntu in Canada.
> > > >
> > > > What do they find? Ubuntu never works. The list is mostly silent
> > but
> > > > then suddenly erupts into a flood of "How do I get my blah
> > working with
> > > > blah on my blah, blah..." followed by a bunch of "Try this try
> > that." In
> > > > short they find: *A whole lot of fail.*
> > > 
> > > No, what they find is that *when* something doesn't work, they can
> > ask
> > > and get an answer pretty quickly, and have a reasonable chance to
> > get
> > > things working. I still haven't seen a response about the Sierra
> > 330U,
> > > but that doesn't mean it didn't work.
> > > 
> > > > If we really want to build community and spread Ubuntu, please
> > let's
> > > > not fool ourselves into thinking random tech support on a
> > mailing list
> > > > is the answer. Let's actually do something real. Get away from
> > your
> > > > screens, host an Ubuntu hour or similar event in a public place.
> > Invite
> > > > people. Be fun and friendly. And, if you see someone on the list
> > asking
> > > > for help, give them real advice that helps everyone: send them
> > to an
> > > > official Ubuntu support channel. Better still, find someone
> > locally near
> > > > them to lend a hand in person, the Ubuntu way.
> > > 
> > > Let's not fool ourselves and think tech support on a mailing list
> > > isn't the answer. Some people would much rather use a local
> > mailing
> > > list than AskUbuntu or calling in to Canonical to get support.
> > Some
> > > other support channels are even more daunting to new users or
> > people
> > > who are trying Ubuntu but don't necessarily know much about
> > computers.
> > > Would you send just about anyone to #ubuntu on IRC for support?
> > IRC
> > > tends to be scary to a lot of people.
> > > 
> > > Let's not fool ourselves and think that everyone who touches
> > Ubuntu
> > > suddenly wants to go to activities organized by a group of Linux
> > > users. I think it's unfortunate, but some people just don't care
> > about
> > > this and simply want to use their computer. Then there are those
> > who
> > > live too far to get to whatever might be organized (let's keep in
> > mind
> > > this is Canada...) or are simply too shy to go to user group
> > meetings.
> > > 
> > > Let's not fool ourselves and think there aren't very capable
> > people on
> > > this mailing list who can give clear, effective answers to
> > technical
> > > problems. If you disagreed with any of the advice that was written
> > in
> > > the thread, please make sure you clearly respond to the sender to
> > tell
> > > them what you think was wrong, of if there is an easier way to do
> > > something. It's always appreciated.
> > > 
> > > I'm not saying don't host events. They're a great way to get to
> > know
> > > better the people you communicate with on a mailing list, or to
> > show
> > > your gratitude to someone who may have helped you out.
> > > 
> > > I'm just saying that technical support on a mailing list is very
> > > effective, and actually accomplishes something.
> > > 
> > > If you feel the list is mostly silent and doesn't show that the
> > Ubuntu
> > > Canada LoCo is active, then by all means, please write on the list
> > > more often, share your ideas, organize more events...
> > > 
> > > Regards,
> > > 
> > > Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre <mathieu-tl at ubuntu.com>
> > > Freenode: cyphermox, Jabber: mathieu.tl at gmail.com
> > > 4096R/EE018C93 1967 8F7D 03A1 8F38 732E FF82 C126 33E1 EE01 8C93
> > > 
> > > -- 
> > > ubuntu-ca mailing list
> > > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
> > 
> > -- 
> > ubuntu-ca mailing list
> > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
> > 
> 
>