[CoLoCo] Appropriateness of posts to this list (Was Re: evince crash)

[TJ Heaney]

In all due seriousness, that sort of opinion is very useful for my
noob-guide.

So far, I have not had sufficient time to write any of it to post to my
blog, but, I will let you all know when parts of it are up.

On Dec 6, 2007 10:05 AM, TJ Heaney <tjheaney at gmail.com> wrote:

> Ubuntu is great
> Noobs must learn to fly solo
> but don't be a douche
>
> :)
>
>
> On Dec 6, 2007 9:58 AM, David L. Willson <DLWillson at thegeek.nu > wrote:
>
> > There's always a reason.  Rough love should not be called to account,
> > when it comes with
> > valuable gifts.  Users (including me) really are whiny bitches
> > sometimes.  We could all
> > learn to speak more politely.
> >
> > Twenty bucks to the author of the best haiku expressing these ideas.
> >
> > On Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:39:20 -0700, Kevin Fries wrote
> > > This was in response to one of the Ubuntu MOTOs degrading the one of
> > the
> > > end users for complaining that they (end users) are not getting
> > listened
> > > to.  I don't like to talk about people behind their backs, and I
> > > mentioned some of the efforts we have been talking about here.  So, I
> > > thought I would cc the copy to you guys.
> > >
> > > On Thu, 2007-12-06 at 09:36 -0700, Kevin Fries wrote:
> > > > On Wed, 2007-12-05 at 22:13 -0500, Scott Kitterman wrote:
> > > > > For those of us who are volunteers (most of us), the compromise is
> > > > > someone has to convince me it's worth my time to bother.  So I'd
> > say
> > > > > the other way around.  The users who want volunteers to actually
> > do
> > > > > free work for them need to be convincing why I should be bothered
> > > > > (hint: threatening to switch back to Windows doesn't motivate me
> > at
> > > > > all).
> > > >
> > > > If you need motivation from external sources, then maybe you are
> > > > misdirecting your efforts.  I am not trying to be mean here, but I
> > use
> > > > and advocate Linux for many reasons.  Nobody has to motivate me to
> > do
> > > > so.  I do so because I believe in the platform, and I want it to
> > > > succeed.  I want it to succeed for selfish as well as altruistic
> > > > reasons.  Many unpaid hours are spent helping someone get started,
> > not
> > > > because I need to be convinced to do so.  I do so because I want
> > Ubuntu
> > > > to succeed, I want Linux to succeed.  And I am not alone.  Many of
> > the
> > > > local Colorado Local Group, are looking for ways to provide help
> > desks
> > > > to noobs, to get more CDs out, or even get cards out pointing the
> > > > uninitiated to online resources.  None of them are paid either.  Nor
> > do
> > > > any of them need to be convinced to do so.  They do so for the same
> > > > reason I do... Because it is what is needed to be done.
> > > >
> > > > There seems to be this growing trend in the Ubuntu community lately,
> > and
> > > > I am pretty sure that it is an all bad thing.  The developers, not
> > all
> > > > but a growing number, seem to think Ubuntu is their baby.  The sweat
> > of
> > > > their brow, and therefore, only successful because of what they do.
> > > > While I will be the first to say that these voices are still the
> > great
> > > > minority, they are getting louder.  And diminish the fantastic work
> > done
> > > > by so many.
> > > >
> > > > There are many ways to contribute to a project such as Ubuntu.  I
> > have
> > > > offered programming skills, and was treated quite rudely buy certain
> > > > members of the programming community.  They were extremely
> > territorial
> > > > and condescending towards my efforts.  I have since decided to focus
> > my
> > > > efforts elsewhere.
> > > >
> > > > The comments above are exactly the attitude we need to guard
> > against.
> > > > In my current day job, I design state of the art hand-held
> > computerized
> > > > devices.  Because of my advocacy here, fewer and fewer of those
> > machines
> > > > are being considered for Windows Mobile.  Because of my efforts
> > here,
> > > > Windows Mobile is no longer mentioned when new projects come up.
> >  That
> > > > takes my faith in the project, and the developers ability to deliver
> > > > that project.  Without the developers, my faith is misplaced.
> >  Without
> > > > my advocacy, the developers efforts are purely academic.  I am no
> > more,
> > > > or no less important than the developer, and I expect to be treated
> > with
> > > > the same respect.  Not looked down upon so some developer can find
> > > > motivation.
> > > >
> > > > In addition to my day job, I am getting a business off the ground.
> >  This
> > > > business is designed to bring real, solid, Linux based networking
> > > > solutions to the small and medium-small based business.  A market
> > > > segment that Linux has not had much success with in the past, and
> > > > Microsoft is pandering to.  Bringing Linux to a brand new market
> > segment
> > > > is not easy.  However, I think by doing so, I can build a successful
> > > > business, allow small businesses to better compete, and advance the
> > > > Linux and Ubuntu cause.  But I do not degrade the efforts of others
> > to
> > > > justify why I do this.  Eau contraire mon frer, I praise them.  For
> > if
> > > > it was not for all that they do, I could not concentrate on
> > resolving
> > > > the businesses issues.
> > > >
> > > > I know that not everybody on this board is American, but one thing
> > that
> > > > every American child learns in history class is in regards to the
> > > > American Civil War.  The north finally prevailed with a tactic of
> > divide
> > > > and conquer.  We learn the slogan "United we stand, divided we fall"
> > > > quoted by Thomas Jefferson (attributed as far back as Aesop).  And
> > > > Abraham Lincoln's paraphrase of that statement "A house divided
> > against
> > > > itself cannot stand" (one of the great speeches of all time).
> >  Ubuntu is
> > > > strong when we all listen to each other, give each other respect,
> > and
> > > > stop trying to claim that my problems are more important than your
> > > > problems.  EVERYONE, end user, advocate, consultant, developer, or
> > even
> > > > the businessperson that uses Linux for his/her operating system of
> > > > choice, is in this together.  Or else, we can tear each other apart.
> >
> > > >
> > > > It is time to come together, shut our mouths, and listen to the
> > other
> > > > sides.  It is time to do this so that all of our efforts can be
> > > > maximized, and focused on the common good.  It time to stop using
> > the
> > > > word me (also meant in the metamorphic sense such as end user, or
> > > > developer) and start using the word us.
> > > >
> > > > Thats just my $0.02
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Kevin Fries
> > > > Senior Linux Engineer
> > > > Computer and Communications Technology, Inc
> > > > A Division of Japan Communications Inc.
> > > >
> > > --
> > > Kevin Fries
> > > Senior Linux Engineer
> > > Computer and Communications Technology, Inc
> > > A Division of Japan Communications Inc.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Ubuntu-us-co mailing list
> > > Ubuntu-us-co at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-us-co
> >
> >
> > David L. Willson
> > Trainer/Engineer/Consultant
> > MCT, MCSE, Linux+
> > (720) 333-LANS
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ubuntu-us-co mailing list
> > Ubuntu-us-co at lists.ubuntu.com
> > Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-us-co
> >
>
>
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