-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On May 21, 2004 11:18, Rob Stallard wrote: > > I know this is a question most foul, asking about C# in this list but > > I need some help and google isnât > > I was thinking that the general underlying attitudes, one sidedness and > fears in the linux communities that prompted the first eight words in > the above sentence are most foul.
- given the origin of C#, it's a topic that not everyone is keen on - given the limited (but thankfully growing) support for C# on Free platforms, it's a topic that is of correspondingly limited relevance here (though growing in relevance) - the Linux communities are made of human beings. the rules of engagement are different, but the people are the same as anywhere else. adjust expectations accordingly ;-) > I think a more relevant question is: > Does it do its job with enough consistency to be reliable? this should not be a primary question, for if it is we begin to passively trade our freedoms and rights away rather than put ourselves in positions where we need to create things that are both Free and Good Enough. on the topic of C#, there are Free toolchains available, so it really isn't a huge issue. ... until we start down the win32-only C# libs =) > I think the best way to help linux grow is to get many more non > technical people using it. The biggest fear, i think, that windows users > have of linux is that they'll never be able to do the stuff they do in > windows on linux. agreed > I think that the biggest roadblock to people that want > to use linux but dont know how, is that the people that do know how > often have attitudes and biases that prevent an active and open sharing > of knowledge. elaborate? > I find it odd that the most "open" collection of > communities on the planet can be very closed when it comes to helping > people discover and use linux. - there are time issues. - there are energy issues. - see my earlier comment about humans being humans. - it's also a two sided coin, with people new to these communities often "walking on the daises to make it to the front door". this is usually unintentional, but it can be prevented with but a minute or two's forethought. all communities have cultures that embody expectations and customs; to truly engage a community one needs to be at least somewhat familiar with the culture (at which point many behavious perceived to be negative suddenly make sense or even just disapear) - many new users wish to take, take, take. this is to be expected to some degree since the amount of information / experience they need versus what they have is unballanced at the beginning, but i find many complain about the free-as-in-beer aspects of the community not delivering without realizing that free-as-in-beer actually means "we have other means of compensation". this community is about participation and exploration. those who do neither often wonder why they don't reap the rewards. - fortunately, there are those more than happy to trade money for similar ends if participation, exploration and cultural engagement are not within one's scope. that said, i find it odd that the community of people who share the MOST with each other when it comes to help and information (he says looking at the amazing library of information on the 'Net) is being indicted here =) especially when compared to the competing corporate cultures ... > I found it somewhat intimidating to come to my first clug meeting. I'd new things often are... =/ hopefully it wasn't any more intimidating than necessary. it would be interesting to hear exactly how it was intimidating for you .... > guess that there are lots of people that want to use linux, but are not, > because of the intimidation factor. to put the shoe on the foot it belongs on: what are/can you do about this? > Personally, i'm sick of the elitism and just want to learn and do cool > things with computers, no matter what OS is currently running. elitism is a loaded word. it assuredly exists, but i also hear that word bandied about in the face of well reasoned and informed opinions that do not meet the preconceived expectations of the listener ... what elitism did you perceive at the CLUG meeting? or on this list? or elsewhere in the community with which you have been exposed to? specifics can be quite useful =) - -- Aaron J. Seigo GPG Fingerprint: 8B8B 2209 0C6F 7C47 B1EA EE75 D6B7 2EB1 A7F1 DB43 while (!horse()); cart(); -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.2-rc1-SuSE (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFAru141rcusafx20MRAnuEAJ4mF70pCzvn+eRdIybBsg1vMwvHwwCfcJ/c +3YafLFEw+pdV4W+UJNfyNU= =lF46 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
