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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


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