Re: Using Ubuntu absolves the user of personal responsibility?

Michael T. Richter <ttmrichter@xxxxxxxxx>:

On Thu, 2006-03-08 at 09:17 -0400, Todd Slater wrote:

I read, with some sadness, the thread on mounting an ISO as a virtual
cd-rom. It appears that pointing someone to a web search or man page
is no longer considered a helpful response. Instead, we must reinvent
the wheel any time a basic question--with more than sufficient
documentation available--is asked. However, I don't think that the
whole Ubuntu humanity thing should be about spoon feeding, but rather
developing competent, self-efficacious users.

When we absolve people of personal responsibility, we often create a
situation of dependence. As shining examples of this, we might look
at the "health" care, social welfare, and educational systems of the
United States.

The notion that it's not acceptable to help people to help themselves
is really ironic when you consider the African roots of Ubuntu.

My $0.02.


That's not the issue.

Yes, it is.

The issue is how should this pointing be
presented. Some people -- well, one person in particular -- believes in
short, terse almost mocking responses.

Who?

Others believe in helpful
responses. Compare and contrast:

Approach #1: Google on "mount" and "ISO" you moron!

Who did that?

Approach #2: "mount -t iso9660 -o loop <file>"

That's a *VERY* bad approach, as has been explained before.

Approach #3: "Go take a quick look at "man mount" and look at the -t and
-o options, paying attention specifically to the iso9660 type and the
loop option."

That's more or less what I did.

Which of the three is most immediately helpful to the end-user?

#3

Which of the three is most long-term helpful to the end-user?

#1

Which of the three leaves the end-user with the impression that the
community consists of troglodytes?

#2

Alexander Skwar
--
"I love every living creature." -Leela
"Even me?" -Fry
"As a friend." -Leela



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