Stradling Cultures--was: "Re[2]: A easier way to create cd's using easy cd creator"

[W. Nick Dotson]

Didn't mean to imply that there was a pausity of docs, conversely, some just "rtfm" but don't give a clue where for the 
problem being queried about.  Janina almost always gives explicit directions to where and what, especially to We Green 
Horned Newbies.  I was indeed, making the parallel between Amateur radio and other services, and the two divergent 
styles of Elmering.  And Bill and Janina are exemplars of the type of Elmering I saw here in Pensacola from the many 
older ex-millitary types, who'd come over skull, practice CW, or help you delve into the innards of a rig without killing 
yourself, or destroying the rig because you were too eager and didn't take a precaution Etc.  It's just that there will have 
to be a more formalized approach to teaching, structuring FAQS and Tutorials to the non-programmers if the OS is to 
become a mature tool for blind user's who now have few alternatives to Gatesian hegemony.  Many of us coming in 
have neither the backgrounds, nor the rest of those attributes I alluded to in my previous post, and I guess I was 
objecting to the laconic abstruce often encrypted responses that don't teach the inquirer until he's been through several 
representations of his/her problem, and someone either condescends, comes to a noble rescue, or, loses patience and 
helps despite their predelections against hands-on in the mud (no pun intended) teaching.

Nick


On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 15:56:10 -0700, Steve Holmes wrote:

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I don't know who smugged you recently on here, but I admit there is
probably some self pride among those of us who may have got a lot of
this all figured out.  One point or two of disagreement with you goes
to documentation.  There's tones of documentation out there that
explains various fascets of Linux.  The problem is more, which thing
do I read for which question or problem.  Some docs are quite lengthy
and possibly overwelming to the reader who seeks a quick answer to his
/ her question.  I think another big divide between linux and windows
is user interfaces.  Many casual users (found around the windows camp
like the GUI and admittedly, it is easy to use for common tasks.
Where on the other hand, linux text based clients use command line
options.  The more powerful and flexible the program, the more options
there and consequently the more dificult it becomes.  I personally
think that will be the biggest stumbling block for new comers to
linux.  Linux has grown considerably in popularity thanks to GUI stuff
in Xwindows and I think largely Red Hat's package management
features.  But for some of us with some of that geek spirit inside,
there's still lots of room in linux with "under the hood distros like
Slackware and LFS where we can get down to the bare metal and tweak
thing ourselves too.  there's room for all kinds.

I look over just this list and I know there's some people who I don't
think are super technical like Ann Parsons, Cheryl Honiak who come
from teaching backgrounds (I believe) who use linux regularly but
aren't geeks by any means:).  Sorry gals for the name dropping:).

There may indeed be a fundamental culture difference between the typic
windows user and the typical linux user.  I could parallel this with
old time ham radio hobiests and perhaps CB or FRS users.  CB and FRS
users can pop in a radio, start using it and not worry about licenses,
exams, or any of that where the hams need to pass license exams, dig
into their equipment more, build their own antenas if so desired and
so on.

I have actually been quite successful with linux over the past 11
years but my first introduction meant a couple all day sessions with a
more experienced linux user at the very beginning to kinda jump start
me so to speak plus I messed with some unix shell accounts back then.
- From then on, I've pretty much taught myself entirely everything I
know about linux except for the much additional help I've picked up
from folks here on this list and my local linux users group mail list.

- -- 
HolmesGrown Solutions
The best solutions for the best price!
http://ld.net/?holmesgrown
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