Re: What is a newbie? (Was Re: Assistance for newbies?)

From: David Maier (dave_at_bardacious.com)
Date: 07/08/04

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    Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 10:45:45 -0700
To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list@redhat.com>

    Rodolfo J. Paiz wrote:

    > At 03:06 PM 7/7/2004, Geoffrey Leach wrote:
    >
    >> My question to the list is this: When is a newbie no longer a newbie?
    >
    >
    > Hmm. Food for thought here... a newbie is no longer a newbie when:
    >
    > 1. He/she understands that Linux is in some ways far better
    > than Windows and in some ways nowhere near Windows and has chosen to
    > accept that (while working to improve it, of course). He/she has a
    > clue as to why those differences exist.
    >
    > 2. He (the "she" is assumed) can solve some of his own
    > problems by reference to /usr/share/doc, Google, LDP, MARC archives, etc.
    >
    > 3. He has learned how to seek help effectively on mailing
    > lists, fora, or IRC when self-help fails to provide results. This is
    > probably equal parts netiquette, smart questions, and common sense
    > plus common courtesy.
    >
    > 4. He has managed to successfully accomplish some of his core
    > tasks using Linux. That is, Linux is now an actually useful tool to
    > him, not just a neat curiosity item.
    >
    > How's that for a starter list?
    >

    Well, this is interesting, because, according to your list I'm half and
    half. Guess I'm either a "new" or a "bie." I can install Linux, but I
    haven't a clue about compiling the kernel. Not even sure why I'd want
    to. I can install an rpm package, if I spend 30 minutes with the man
    page, but I don't know what to do with a source file or how to do
    whatever you do to a tarball. My ability to make effective use of Linux
    is limited by these walls I keep butting into. I'd really be
    disinclined to label myself a non-newbie because I'd feel like a fool
    otherwise. I'm guaranteed to ask a very newbie like question at any
    moment. Like, "What's a grep?"

    I always figured a non-newbie was someone who has a fairly versatile
    grasp of the whole package, i.e., has a fairly good handle on the big
    picture so that s/he has a pretty good base from which to diagnose
    failures or otherwise to figure things out. Maybe I try to make the
    class so large that you won't get angry at me for asking something
    which, according to your judgment, I darn well ought to know.... Would
    it be useful to create an intermediate category of earnest and
    well-intentioned adopters who have gaping holes in their grasp of the
    fundamental concepts? A "Wannabie?" 

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