[plug] Newbie Guide - The beginning

[Kev]

Hi Arie.  After reading this I'd like to emphasize my offer.  It seems 
that you understand the problems too.  Btw, I'm 52.

Kev

Arie Hol wrote:
> Greetings,
> 
> Firstly a big thank you to all who responded to my previous post and
> an even bigger thank you to those who offered to participate - I will
> get back to them in good time.
> 
> It look's like I got off on the wrong foot, (I suppose that comes
> from being struck by a runaway train).
> 
> I have taken on board all of the comments made and will attempt to
> answer all of them at once :
> 
> Firstly the demo site has been taken down.
> 
> All references to P.L.U.G. have been removed.
> 
> I do not want to do a wiki and spend the rest of my life
> administering it - and fighting about it as it wanders away from the
> original concept and becomes irrelevant to the people it is aimed at.
> 
> 
> I will keep the site as my my own work and run it from Ozemail -
> until : P.L.U.G. considers it good enough to adopt as their own - at
> which time I will give it to P.L.U.G. to rehash or whatever OR I find
> I need my web space for something else.
> 
> The main concept behind my idea is - that it is and remains a support
> system for newcomers to linux, written by a newcomer for newcomers.
> 
> It will only get as technical as it needs to.
> 
> If it is no good then the newcomers will let me know.
> 
> It will be based on what I have achieved with Linux and feel
> comfortable sharing with others.
> 
> I will create as much content as I need to - yes I will reinvent the
> wheel - silly perhaps - but in reality a lot of the wheels out there
> at the moment do not seem to rolling very well for a lot of newcomers
> - because they are written by people with higher skill levels and you
> need a pilots' licence to understand them.
> 
> I am a newbie (newcomer) to Linux and always will be (even when I'm
> 85 years old, already at 54)
> 
> I have just finished two degrees at uni, ( not bad for somebody who
> is ADD and a mild dyslexic)
> 
> I am not a linux fanatic, guru, geek or otherwise, I am not a
> programmer.
> 
> But I am frustrated by the "class distinction" that continually
> emanates from "experienced" Linux users towards newcomers - I think
> it's great that you have installfests and install everything for new
> users - but some users want to understand how and what is happening
> and maybe do it themselves.
> 
> I don't believe in throwing someone a life preserver and then telling
> them to SWIM - I'd rather teach them to swim.
> 
> Too many times newcomer queries are answered with "technical"
> solutions that the newcomers cannot understand - and they end up
> turning away.
> 
> I would like to refer to the AGM discussion which was started by an
> elderly chap (sorry about  that - can't remember his name) - who said
> he was practically ignored at the P.L.U.G. workshops that he attended
> - and ending up going home non the wiser.
> 
> Where's the community spirit that we brag about.
> 
> I think that too many "experienced" Linux users become elitist - and
> can't be bothered with new comers and ordinary people, maybe I joined
> the wrong club - I just don't know.
> 
> The newcomers web site will take a lot of time and effort - but I am
> willing to persevere even if my ideas and personal style do not suit
> others.
> 
> No offence intended or implied to anyone - even bad comments can lead
> to good outcomes.
> 
> Keep them coming, but I will still bite when prodded with a stick.
> 
> Regards Arie 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
> For the concert of life, nobody has a program. 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>