Randy Kramer wrote: > > BTW: No offense intended, but this strikes me as close to a newbie level > question (unless the details that you haven't provided so far indicate > otherwise). What made you post it on "expert"? Again, no offense, and > I don't consider myself an expert, but I usually try to post my > questions to what I think is the more appropriate list, and if that was > newbie, "escalate" it to expert only if I don't get a satisfactory > response on newbie. Seems to me that was the intent of having a newbie > and an expert list, and probably helps to avoid traffic for experts that > don't want to be bothered with newbie level questions. (There are very > expert people who lurk on the newbie list and answer questions.) If I > misunderstand the reason for the two lists, maybe one of the list > veterans can provide a different insight? >
Randy, Your comments are most germane, and tastefully inserted as an addendum in your reply. Unfortunately, the distinction you delineated between newbie and expert list has, over the few years I have been here, pretty much been loss. There are a number of reasons for this to occur. One reason would simply be the subjective nature of differentiating between a "newbie" problem and what constitutes an "expert" problem. I have said it here before, and I'll say it again: I would humbly estimate that about 60 to 70 percent of the postings on this list are within the "newbie" range. If you or others have a subscription to other UNIX type lists, you will readily see how this situation is handled. There are usually a few "list nazis" who do not hesitate to make the newbie feel very uncomfortable about posting a problem that would have been easily solved by a RTFM or STFW. Because the Mandrake expert list is for Mandrake Linux solutions, I believe it will always be as it is: a "kinder, gentler" sort of list. And, as such, you might as well acclimate yourself to the reality that this list is really just an extension to the newbie list... I hope I have engendered some thoughts on this issues, and hopefully we might see some thoughtful responses... Dr John, The Night Tripper -- J. Craig Woods UNIX/NT Network/System Administration http://www.trismegistus.net "Character is built upon the debris of despair" --Emerson
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