From owner-freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Dec 23 10:19:48 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 05B5F16A4CE; Thu, 23 Dec 2004 10:19:48 +0000 (GMT) Received: from smtp1.pacifier.net (smtp1.pacifier.net [64.255.237.171]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B6F2F43D58; Thu, 23 Dec 2004 10:19:47 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from charles@coppersoftware.com) Received: from chuckoplaptop (unknown [210.254.109.116]) by smtp1.pacifier.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id CB13C70468; Thu, 23 Dec 2004 02:19:45 -0800 (PST) From: "Charles Oppermann" To: "'Greg 'groggy' Lehey'" , Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 02:19:44 -0800 Organization: Copper Software MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook, Build 11.0.6353 In-Reply-To: <20041223063731.GW53357@wantadilla.lemis.com> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.1289 Thread-Index: AcToufpZNuC9446MRRSLFzX3mnLijgAHAZKw Message-Id: <20041223101945.CB13C70468@smtp1.pacifier.net> cc: 'Sue Blake' cc: 'FreeBSD Core Team' Subject: RE: Time to shut down this list? X-BeenThere: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Gathering place for new users List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 10:19:48 -0000 >>1. It's not the original charter of the mailing list. For reference: I've always thought this was silly. All throughout the internet "newbies" implies beginner. A newbie mailing list regarding an operating system is naturally going to have people posting technical questions. Even if the newbie is aware of the technical questions mailing list, they may make the choice to post to freebsd-newbies because of intimidation. I understand the purpose of the list is "a gathering place for people new to FreeBSD" to "share [their] experiences with others" and I think that's wonderful. To accomplish that goal then, why not simply have a "freebsd-experience" mailing list? Personally, I think newbies (myself included) are intimidated by the freebsd-questions list and feel they will be more welcomed in a newbies list. For that reason, I think the freebsd-newbies list should stick around and have it's charter changed to allow technical discussions - with a caveat that they be moved to another list if not newbie oriented. Regardless of what's done, something has to change simply because so many people make the mistake of not reading or abiding my the current charter. Currently newbie's are chastised at the very time they feel most intimated. Instead, they should be welcomed, encouraged and nurtured. I'm glad the FreeBSD organization is discussing this, because it's been painful for me to watch people basically get yelled at for posting. Might not seem like yelling to someone who subscribes to a dozen or more lists and has tons of experience, but I'm sure the wet-behind-the-ears newbie has a different impression of what is likely their first experience with the FreeBSD community.