Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 22:11:52 -0500 (CDT) From: Frank Pawlak <fpawlak@execpc.com> To: Studded@san.rr.com Cc: chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Project FreeBSD 98 Message-ID: <199804140311.WAA02630@darkstar.connect.com> In-Reply-To: <3532C5F7.B0F474C4@san.rr.com>
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On 13 Apr, Studded wrote: > Frank Pawlak wrote: > >> These are excellent points and the activities are very much needed. > > Yes, some of us have been talking about this subject for a long time. > :) It's nice to see the momentum continue to build. The work on some of > the things you're discussing here has already been in progress for a > couple months. I would again encourage anyone interested in working on > documentation related issues to subscribe to freebsd-doc. > >> If >> I can add something to this it is total agreement. I am still something >> of a newbie myself, and have at times been reticent to ask questions >> for just the reasons that you point out. > > Can you please describe in as much detail as you feel comfortable with > exactly *why* you don't feel comfortable asking questions? Perhaps on a > different thread. This is a key area of the FreeBSD project and since > I'm at a loss to understand why someone wouldn't feel comfy asking > questions on the -questions list, I need help understanding. :) Sure I'll give this a shot. This is tough to answer without appearing to be bitching. My feeling is that at times when questions are asked, the question gets answered at a level that may intimidate the person asking. In other words a terse answer. If that answer is not understood, a person maybe hesitant to ask for a more detailed explanation out of embarrassment of appearing stupid. However, I must plead guilty, because I have answered questions in the same manner, so I am now finding it hard to point fingers. A simple minded personal example is Eric Raymond's post to chat in which he mentions VCs. I don't have a clue what he means, so I had the option of just letting it pass or post a question as to what a VC is. I am sure that is a term common to most in the community, so there I was somewhat hesitant to ask about it but I did anyway. A more memorable example occcured on the news group, which I understand doesn't concern what we are trying to accomplish here. At the time there was a short thread regarding a few people that were running the Linux real audio player 5.0 My box is setup for Linux emulation and I run Linux apps all day long, except for the realplayer. I posted to the group explaining my circumstances and it was suggested to me that it sounded as if I had an old Linux module installed. Checked /lkm and found the modules dated the same as my last make world. Re-posted asking for more info on determining the age of the modules and question ignored. This is only pertinent here because it was a member of the FreeBSD team that made the module suggestion. I still don't have the bloody thing working, but one day I get it figured out. > >> > To some people, a democracy means that the strong and numerous screw the >> > small and timid. I don't think that's the kind you meant :-) >> >> Only in the US ;-) I would hope that the Australian experience with >> democracy differs from ours. If I were to be president or prime >> minister, that kind of thing would end in a heartbeat. If I have my >> say it won't happen here either. > > Errrr... I think we'll get a lot farther if we don't assume negatives > and cast aspersions from the start. :) Rather than dragging politics > and nationalism into the debate, let's focus on how we can serve our > community best. Errrr... your right. I took Sue's comment as a bit of fun and repplied in kind, not thinking ahead that this stuff is after all on a public mailing list and could be offensive to some. Frank > > Doug > -- ----------------------------- "At no time is freedom of speech more precious then when a man hits his thumb with a hammer." -- Marshall Lumsden To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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