http://hazelmckendrick.com/journal/welcome-to-the-community-an-overview-for-new-linux-users Programming and Games Technology Portfolio Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:08:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 http://hazelmckendrick.com/journal/welcome-to-the-community-an-overview-for-new-linux-users/comment-page-1#comment-160 Hazel Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:32:39 +0000 http://killercodingninjabunny.com/?p=207#comment-160 I didn't mention Linux IRC channels, mostly because the ones I've been in either only offer technical support - no way to really talk to other users, or don't mention Linux at all. <br /> As you say, 'Lurking' on forums and mailing lists, just reading and rarely talking is acceptable and even encouraged. It will make sure you get a feeling for how things work and who the other users are before you say anything. I didn’t mention Linux IRC channels, mostly because the ones I’ve been in either only offer technical support – no way to really talk to other users, or don’t mention Linux at all.

As you say, ‘Lurking’ on forums and mailing lists, just reading and rarely talking is acceptable and even encouraged. It will make sure you get a feeling for how things work and who the other users are before you say anything.

]]> http://hazelmckendrick.com/journal/welcome-to-the-community-an-overview-for-new-linux-users/comment-page-1#comment-159 Nistur Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:21:27 +0000 http://killercodingninjabunny.com/?p=207#comment-159 Something that is maybe a little quicker but slightly more complex would also be IRC channels, a lot of application and distribution specific channels exist and I have got a lot of good advice and help from them, however the whole IRC thing can be a bit daunting. All in all the vastness of the community aspect of Linux is probably a bit daunting. The point that would have to be made is that you can belong to these communities and not take part in a lot and people will rarely mind. You can make filters on your email account to route all your Linux mailing list to a separate folder and not get bogged down too much with constant streams of emails. You can leave your forum account for months without reading a single post. They are still there. If you get a problem you can just ask and you are very likely to get a good reply. Of course it's expected that if you come across a question yourself that you can answer and you have the time to then you help out. My point - Just because these things exist and you sign up for them doesn't mean that you have to dedicate a lot of time to them. Think of it as the same as commercial tech support you would normally pay for - You get answers when you need them - only with this you don't need to pay (although most places accept donations) Something that is maybe a little quicker but slightly more complex would also be IRC channels, a lot of application and distribution specific channels exist and I have got a lot of good advice and help from them, however the whole IRC thing can be a bit daunting.
All in all the vastness of the community aspect of Linux is probably a bit daunting. The point that would have to be made is that you can belong to these communities and not take part in a lot and people will rarely mind. You can make filters on your email account to route all your Linux mailing list to a separate folder and not get bogged down too much with constant streams of emails. You can leave your forum account for months without reading a single post.
They are still there. If you get a problem you can just ask and you are very likely to get a good reply. Of course it’s expected that if you come across a question yourself that you can answer and you have the time to then you help out.
My point – Just because these things exist and you sign up for them doesn’t mean that you have to dedicate a lot of time to them. Think of it as the same as commercial tech support you would normally pay for – You get answers when you need them – only with this you don’t need to pay (although most places accept donations)

]]> http://hazelmckendrick.com/journal/welcome-to-the-community-an-overview-for-new-linux-users/comment-page-1#comment-158 Welcome to the Community - An Overview for New Linux Users. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:49:14 +0000 http://killercodingninjabunny.com/?p=207#comment-158 [...] Go to the author’s original blog: Welcome to the Community - An Overview for New Linux Users. [...] [...] Go to the author’s original blog: Welcome to the Community – An Overview for New Linux Users. [...]

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