[ubuntu-uk] I'm new

[alan c]

Mat
It has been said *clearly* what went wrong!

>> "The chap on the [irc] who's responded to my plea for help has
>> just given me technical jargon answers I simply don't understand and
>> he's putting me off Ubuntu."

The subject did not 'understand'. You will not see that from logs, but
you will get it, and *have* got if from their own quote.

FWIW I am a ferociously active supporter of Ubuntu and currently also
paid up in FSF, but I have only four times used irc seriously, only
once every two years on average. I use ubuntuforums very frequently,
giving and receiving help (more than 1000 posts).

I have a number of friends who I 'administer' ubuntu for and not a
single one of them is remotely interested nor suited even to use the
forums let alone irc. If they need help I use the phone or skype
(spit) or teamviewer (spit).

At this level I am helping users who are one step away from the 'Any
key' situation. Which is ok with me, but this can get unrealistic on
IRC. These are 'novice' users. But some have been using Ubuntu for
three years now.

I think that IRC is a quite difficult medium for beginners. And me (7
years). I also think that support of your average jack and jill user
is a fairly unusual and demanding skill, and not all Ubuntu helpers
possess this.


On 27/07/11 12:56, Matthew Daubney wrote:
> Hi Paula,
> 
> I don't suppose you know this persons irc nick? We can have a look in the
> logs and see where we went wrong.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Matt Daubney
> On Jul 27, 2011 12:41 PM, "Paula Graham" <pmgazz at gmx.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 24/07/11 18:19, Alan Bell wrote:
>>> On 24/07/11 10:58, a.hunter at visuality-group.co.uk wrote:
>>>> Hi!
>>>>
>>>> I'm new to all this, but been reading the discussions coming in
>>>> through the emails. Is it just me, or is there some sort of petty
>>>> argument going on? Am I reading it wrong?
>>>>
>>>> Love to all!
>>>>
>>>> Alex.
>>>>
>>> Welcome Alex,
>>>
>>> there is indeed a long email conversation going on, I assume you are
>>> referring to the "Re: [ubuntu-uk] Um, why am I blocked from
>>> #ubuntu-uk" thread which actually isn't about anyone specific being
>>> blocked from the channel, it was accidentally set to only allow
>>> registered users for a few hours and is back to open access now. We
>>> generally try to keep this mailing list and the IRC channel polite and
>>> constructive at all times. This is community support, which means we
>>> all help each other, there is no dividing line between those helping
>>> and those needing help with an issue, and we all have access to the
>>> same information. Sometimes there is no immediate solution to a
>>> problem, which can cause frustration from time to time, but we do try
>>> to point people in the right direction to find a solution to their
>>> problem.
>>>
>>> Alan.
>>
>> Apropos - and sorry, don't want to whinge to people who're freely giving
>> their time - but thought you'd want to know - I just got an email from
>> one of the people we taught last week to come to the IRC channel for
>> help because BT can't help her as they don't support Linux. This is what
>> she said (and by "forum", she means IRC):
>>
>> "The chap on the Ubuntu forum who's responded to my plea for help has
>> just given me technical jargon answers I simply don't understand and
>> he's putting me off Ubuntu."
>>
>> This woman is by no means an idiot but she's left a larger organisation,
>> where she had tech support, to start her own non-profit and now has to
>> DIY - she was pretty enthusiastic about Ubuntu at the session we did and
>> the welcome she got on IRC at the session was great - so she has gone
>> ahead and installed her own laptop. But she's bringing the laptop back
>> here for a Fossbox volunteer to look at. It sounds like it's a simple
>> problem with wifi on a BT hub - but she has no prior understanding of
>> networks so she needs simple step-by-step support.
>>
>> This isn't the first time someone boomerangs off Ubuntu-UK back to
>> Fossbox wailing that they don't understand what's been said to them. I
>> know it's often frustrating having to explain the most basic things to
>> people and translate to plain English, but that's what it takes to get
>> beyond the techie-sphere with Ubuntu . . .
>>
>> Again, don't want to carp about the fantastic work done here - I don't
>> know if it's an issue to lose people this way but thought you'd want to
>> know the feedback I get here.
>>
>> Paula
>>
>>
>> --
>> ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
> 
> 


-- 
alan cocks
Ubuntu user