Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 09:44:07 -0500 (EST) From: Dave Hummel <HUMMDN36@BUFFALOSTATE.EDU> To: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: normal ftp blah blah Message-ID: <01IFAA582IT291VTF8@BUFFALOSTATE.EDU>
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Actually my intent was to keep the newbie list for the new to Unix crowd, so I guess that's where it would be different from questions@. I tried to address some of this earlier, but my VMS account barfed.... I will try to remember what I said in that attempted post. Part of my intent was to divert some of he most simple questions away from questions@. Wheteher you believe it or not, most of what happens on questions@ is pretty technical to us newbies. I figured that questions of the most simple kind could be answered by fairly experienced users and that the hard core folks would actually have less to deal with. I certainly had no intention of creating more work for those who already doing a lot...that means, among other, Doug White, who always seems to take the time to answer almost every question (thanks, Doug). What actually inspired my post was the whole ftp site controversy. It just seems like the questions@ is such a great support forum for users, that some topics just don't fit. This includes some general Unixy type questions that new users are invariably going to ask, as well as questions about the site etc. I was thinking that it could also serve as kind of a first stop for people new to FreeBSD or people just passing through. I just thought the whole FTP argument was totally inappropriate for questions@, which seems to serve mainly as technical support. Besides serving as a buffer to questions@, I figured that the new list would would serve as kind of promotional zone for the new-to-Unix-but-wanna-try-it- but-can't-decide-whether-to-try-Linux-or-FreeBSD crowd. My thinking was that some people may feel threatened by questions@, not because of the people (who are VERY nice), but because when they see so many questions that are over their head, they feel stupid asking simple questions. I was just throwing out this idea. I honestly did not expect all of this to come to pass without some rigourous debate. I REALLY do not want to be remembered as the guy who created more work for everyone else, so if anyone has doubts as to whether this is a good idea, don't do it. I am very willing to live with questions@. It hasn't failed me yet. I've only been on questions@ on and off (mostly on) for about a year, so I really don't know if there's enough reason to start a new list....that's up to you. I guess this means that if it's going to be a lot of extra work, questions@ is just fine the way it is, and the whole thing about encouraging new users is invalid, then the idea may not be so good. Peace, Dave > >Oooh, I am sticking my head out on this one! > >On Sat, 8 Feb 1997, Jonathan M. Bresler wrote: > >> i thinnk that this is a very good idea. we need a volunteer >> to step froward and moderate the list (i cant devote the >> time to do the list justice.) > >My only gripe here is: What's -questions material vs. -newbie material? >Having duplication here makes things sticky for us support folks (what to >promote? What not?) and confuses things for the users (now, which list >does this belong to? Let's try both!). This may have to be worked out in >time. > >I can see the volunteer quoting Nemeth and juicy bits from the Handbook >to keep things lively... > >OK, fine. I'll volunteer. This means splitting time between -questions >and this, so if -newbies gets too busy -questions gets it. (Oh, and I'm >_not_ suggesting we call the list -newbie.) > >> should be familiar with majordomo (not-critical). > >Run my own majordomo, so I'm familiar with the proceudre. I'll have to go >rip off approve from it. > >> should be experienced with FreeBSD, so as to be able >> to distinuish the newuser questions from the more >> interesting ones that may arise (critical) > >Well, we'll let the questions archives speak for that one and leave the >idea of an "interesting one" undefined. > >> should be willing to augment the FAQ with the results >> of the mailing list (near-critical to critical) > >I would amend this to submitting updates to the FAQ Maintainer. This way >everyone keeps their feet to themselves. > >> have an account on freefall (desireable) > >This could be fixed if it was a priority. > >> be on very good terms with the doc folks and have >> commit privileges..... > >I _think_ the doc people like me. :) > >Doug White | University of Oregon >Internet: dwhite@resnet.uoregon.edu | Residence Networking Assistant >http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~dwhite | Computer Science Major >
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