On Mon, 1 Feb 2021 12:02:34 -0800 Rick Moen <r...@linuxmafia.com> wrote:
> Quoting Adrian Zaugg (devuan....@mailgurgler.com): > > > It is difficult to help, if you don't write what you exactly > > donwloaded, how you tried to install, on what system etc. It is > > somehow like: "I ate somethin' for dinner and now I have stomach > > ache. Please help me!!!" – what would you answer? Reading that on a > > mailing list you probably would just ignore such a person ... > > I think someone should write an online essay called something like > 'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way', to help such folks. I'm old, but I seem to remember a web page with a similar name. Years ago, I wrote those guys who run the web page, with my patented, always-succeeds method of getting an answer on a technical mailing list, and those guys didn't want to put my method on their page. They said my method was "manipulative". Because I have low self-esteem, I abandoned my method. Now, when I need email help, I always use the same subject line: "Computer doesn't work", and submit a 30KB or more file: Either an entire dmesg from the time it booted last year, or five complete source files in RAR format. To make sure I don't prejudice those who might help me, I never tell version numbers, or whether it's Linux, Windows, Mac or BSD. If it's a programming problem I never identify the language. I never say what I hope to accomplish, because it's their job to tell me what I want to accomplish. When I don't get answers, I send a whiny reminder every two hours. When all this doesn't work, I use a web search. SteveT Steve Litt Autumn 2020 featured book: Thriving in Tough Times http://www.troubleshooters.com/thrive _______________________________________________ Dng mailing list Dng@lists.dyne.org https://mailinglists.dyne.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/dng
