Another funny....

[Colin Law]

On 18 November 2010 15:13, Cybe R. Wizard <cyber_wizard at mindspring.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:47:57 +1100
> Basil Chupin <blchupin at iinet.net.au> wrote:
>
>> I do NOT propagate the urban legend that "google is your
>> friend".
>>
>> It makes a lot more sense to ask for help about a problem, and get
>> it, from either this forum or launchpad or the Ubuntu documentation.
>>
>> What you get when you "google" is equivalent to using a Usenet
>> newsgroup where morons mostly post moronic statements/answers.
>>
>> BC
>
> One would naturally think that, I guess.  Personally, I've solved more
> Linux problems of mine by googling for the answers than I have ever had
> good help with here.  In fact, the Usenet group, alt.os.linux.ubuntu
> (which has /lots/ more than its share of morons (I'm one)) has given me
> more help over the years than I've ever had here.
> I'll even go so far as to say that this list in particular has never
> yet given me good advise/help with /any/ serious Linux problem with
> which I have come to it (I do still have one outstanding problem with
> which I am contending and which has seen no solution anywhere). I have
> solved some problems elsewhere that I originally asked about here, got
> no help and then reported back on them here for posterity after getting
> a solution some other way.

That has not been my experience here, I have asked a few questions
after google, experiment and contemplation have failed to provide
answers.  In virtually all cases I have had my problem solved.  This
may to a major extent be due to the fact that I am a newcomer to
Ubuntu (and Linux) and therefore no doubt the questions I have are
more likely to be easily answered by those with more experience than
myself.  On a number of occasions I have found the answer using
google, which has pointed me back into the archives of this list.

I think that by definition it is going to be harder for long time
Linux experts to get help anywhere as they already know the answers to
the easy questions, and know where to look up the answers to most of
the more difficult ones.  Their lot, I am afraid, is mostly to be the
ones who help out those such as myself.  For which I am sure we are
eternally grateful.

Colin

Colin