Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 11:28:18 +0000 From: Xian <ml-freebsd-newbies@codepad.net> To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Time to shut down this list? Message-ID: <200412231128.18781.ml-freebsd-newbies@codepad.net> In-Reply-To: <20041223101945.CB13C70468@smtp1.pacifier.net> References: <20041223101945.CB13C70468@smtp1.pacifier.net>
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On Thursday 23 December 2004 10:19, Charles Oppermann wrote: > >>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. I originally signed up to -questions and -newbies, but was overwhelmed by the volume of mail on -questions and unsubscribed after a few days. I feel much more comfortable with -newbies, especially if I want to ask a very basic question because I know we have all been there at some point. I think it is better to tell some people that they should be asking on -questions than close -newbies as really new people may feel intimidated and not ask the very basic questions that this list is for. I remember vividly when I had just installed FreeBSD, it asked for my lo gin so I gave it my user name. Then it asked for a password so I gave it that. But what sort of a question was '%'? I was most worried when 'help' didn't work. I asked this list and anyone who would listen many basic questions that I was wouldn't dared have asked on -questions. -- /Xian "Security is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, no matter what the danger" Anon
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