Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 22:20:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug White <dwhite@gdi.uoregon.edu> To: freebsd-bugs@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: misc/6537: New improved motd, take 2 Message-ID: <199805080520.WAA14327@freefall.freebsd.org>
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The following reply was made to PR misc/6537; it has been noted by GNATS. From: Doug White <dwhite@gdi.uoregon.edu> To: Studded <Studded@san.rr.com> Cc: freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.ORG, ac199@hwcn.org Subject: Re: misc/6537: New improved motd, take 2 Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 22:18:20 -0700 (PDT) On Thu, 7 May 1998, Studded wrote: > > > Please see the Releases page at http://www.FreeBSD.ORG/releases/ for > > > any security advisories or updated information regarding this release. > > > > This doesn't quite flow right, and it implies a one-or-the-other feeling. > > How about replacing `or' with `and': > > Because I don't want people complaining when they go to the page and > don't find one or the other. :) I also want to make it as friendly and > non-threatening as possible. Okay, I can buy that. > > Please see the Releases page at http://www.FreeBSD.ORG/releases/ for > > updated information regarding this release. > > This is better than the second one, but the idea of making it > "security.. or updated info" was to imply that it's important enough to > check out that URL without creating a sense of panic. Taking Tim's idea is a happy medium, see below. > No, I don't think so at all. As I said the first time around, your > idea of using the motd to communicate this information is a very good > one. Creating just the right atmosphere while also communicating the > importance of the subject matter is a delicate balance. And keeping space in mind. I'd like to have the motd be short enough that it doesn't scroll off the version data. That pretty much limits it to 20 lines or so. I need to run this by some english professors -- that'll straighten it out once and for all. :-) > > should be sufficient. We're offering a list of suggestions, not imploring > > the user to do something, like we are at the top since we would really > > like them to check this page first-thing out-of-the-box. > > Actually your second point reinforces the importance of making the > request polite but firm. "Please do this.." gives a sense of "here is > how we have prepared for the goal of you helping yourself, so go do it" > in my mind... it also makes it more friendly. But it's not parallel structure -- you have to start each line with "please" and that is way too much please-ing. :) It looks ugly. I think s/require/need and s/See/Check softens it up enough. > > The change to #2 is fine. I assume everyone is okay with dropping the > > sysinstall bit. > > Why drop it? The average new user isn't even going to know where to > begin looking for '/stand/sysinstall.' Well, you dropped it, so I figured you did it intentionally. I'll see if I can glue all this together. GNATS is a good thing :) Speaking of that, you have a msg from Tim Vanderhoek that I didn't get but GNATS did. I'll add him to this thread. Tim, I like your intro lines better than mine. Your favorite is a bit too forceful with `will' IMHO, `can' follows with the `gentle' tone of the message we're presenting. Here's as it stands: FreeBSD version information Welcome to FreeBSD! You can find security advisories and updated information posted at http://www.FreeBSD.ORG/releases/. If you need technical assistance: 1. Consult the Errata section of the Releases page mentioned above. 2. Search the Handbook, FAQ, and mail archives at http://www.FreeBSD.ORG/search.html. If the doc distribution is installed on this machine you will find the FAQ and Handbook in /usr/share/doc/. 3. If you still have a question or problem, collect the output of `uname -a' and include error messages from whatever part of the system you are having problems with and email your question to freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG. Enter `/stand/sysinstall' to re-enter the installation and configuration utility. Edit /etc/motd to change this login announcement. That's pretty good and fits in the line limit. Doug White | University of Oregon Internet: dwhite@resnet.uoregon.edu | Residence Networking Assistant http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~dwhite | Computer Science Major To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-bugs" in the body of the message
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