Something Newbies Should Know

[Lou]

Something Newbies Should Know

This is just my opinion FWIW, after using Linux for 5 years:

The transition from Windows to Linux is painful, no doubt about it. The
following article, rant, or advice is just an attempt to explain how to
go about it.

Linux, regardless of distro, is hard work, there is no way around it,
you have to bite the bullet. Attempts to circunvent this process will
be met with failure. If you want to use Debian, Slackware, or Gentoo
because you want to impress your pals but you don't want to get your
hands dirty, or if reading is a PITA because you got better things to
do, do not read any further, go back to Vista or buy a Mac at once!

Linux is not for everybody, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Installing, configuring, and administering Linux is like robbing a
bank. Careful planning and studying is a must; it is NOT a bag of
tricks, you cannot improvise and hope it will be ok. Luckily, there are
forums, search engines, mailing lists, and IRC channels.

If you attempt to install Linux and something is not working, in most
cases it's your fault. You either did not read the howto explaining how
to install step by step, sometimes it's your hardware, sometimes it's a
bug, but in most cases, its due to the newbie's ignorance and laziness
in not preparing himself for the task.

Fine. Nobody is perfect, nobody was born knowing it all, the newbie
needs help. After all, we all were newbies at one time. But the newbie
has to cooperate by doing his part. He has to read the howtos, follow
the advice given, and try it. If it doesn't work, it's imperative he
comes back and question WHY it doesn't work after explaining what he
DID. If he doesn't explain WHAT he did there is no way to find out,
especially if the error message is not pasted in his question.

This process requires a lot of googling and research.

Nothing is owed to the newbie, if he doesn't do his homework, he
deserves nothing. Attempts to blackmail the forum with statements like:
"if i don't solve this, i'll go back to Windows", or "i'll install
another distro" for the most part will be ignored by the majority. The
newbie has to do his homework, or find a distro geared to work "out of
the box", a no-brainer distro a la Windows, with which to cut his teeth
in.

[gmedina]

"Debian-ation a la mode and a cup of tea"

[chrismortimore]

This is a good example of an idiotic thread:
viewtopic.php?t=15287&highlight=

If I can find the answer in two clicks, any other idiot can as well.

[gmedina]

Your point?

[hcgtv]

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."

Socrates

[gmedina]

Really?

[Lou]

"Debian-ation a la mode and a cup of tea"

Please elaborate, thanks!

[gmedina]

You've done it already (review your original post). It's so self-contained...

[Lou]

If you're going to comment on postings, the least you could do is explain your position, instead of writing gutless, vague, one-line non sequiturs. Are you trolling?

[bluesdog]

I'm bemused by the implied connection between Debian, and J. Tull's 'Aqualung'

[Simpatico]

My only problem with amateurs is some of them don't know they're amateurs.

[Jackiebrown]

My only problem with amateurs is some of them don't know they're amateurs.

And they go by the name "Window Power Users"

[Simpatico]

And they go by the name "Window Power Users"

True dat. Unfortunately not limited only to them.

[Lux]

we all were newbies at one time

A very good point.

It takes quite a lot of time and effort to learn Linux and it takes some extra time to learn how to ask good questions. The more experienced users can help newbies in achieving both of these goals.

In time, we might be able to teach the newbies how they can help themselves. But, in the meanwhile, new Debian users usually just want to find friends who tell them how to cope with Linux in general and with Debian in specific.

We should do our best to be the kind of friends they're looking for.

[rickh]

We should do our best to be the kind of friends they're looking for.

When I do or say something really ignorant, my best friends let me know about it quickly.

I like helping people. One of my primary responsibilities in my career was training new people in the use of one application or another. A lot of people were insulted by my teaching methods, but nobody ever said they couldn't learn from me. My attitude, right or wrong, is that you learn quickest when you get your knuckles rapped. I guess that's because I'm old. When I went to elementry school, that was the standard means of correction for stupidity or lack of effort.