In a message dated: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 00:22:29 EST
Benjamin Scott said:
>On Wed, 20 Feb 2002, Bruce Dawson wrote:
>> But to be honest with you, I believe the biggest problem ex-M$ users have
>> with Linux is Linux's command line heritage.
>
> I disagree. In my not-so-humble opinion, I think the whole "GUI vs CLI"
>argument is a red herring.
I agree! Check out the March issue of Linux Journal. In there is an
article about using Linux in schools and it mentions that when left
alone for a bit, the children's natural curiosity takes over and they
start to learn how Linux works. They actually go so far as to say
that the teachers have a problem with Linux because "they have just
finished getting used to Windows." and essentially are afraid to
learn.
So really, the problem with learning Linux boils down to the fact
that the older the person is, the more inhibitions they've built up
and need to get past before they can start to learn. If adults would
just put aside these inhibitions and let their natural curiosity take
over and not be afraid of breaking something, they would learn a
whole lot faster.
I think that might be the true definition of "geek". It's someone
who has never lost the ability to let their natural curiosity lead
them. It also explains why so many of us like beer. When our
inhibitions get in the way, we get them out of the way in whatever
manner works best, and beer works *really* well. That's something we
all learned in college :)
But seriously, I think the key to learning *anything* isn't how it's
presented or what interface is used, it's really the level of
interest and curiosity the person has about the subject. I have a
very high level of interest and curiosity about UNIX-based computer
systems, and therefore put a lot of effort and time into learning and
reading up on associated topics.
I have absolutely no interest in non-UNIX based computer systems and
therefore don't put any effort at all into learning about them
(anymore than I already know).
I have a very marginal interest in astronomy and science in general,
and therefore put a marginal effort into learning and reading about
it.
Think back to when you were in school. Most people really excell at
the subjects for which they have the most interest in. These are the
subjects which parents and teachers usually say that "you have a
talent for." For me it was math, I really enjoyed it and thought it
was pretty neat. I couldn't have cared less about things like
learning another language, or english class. But put me in a math or
history class, and I did really well. And those interests continue
to this day.
If you have no interest in learning something, you'll never learn it.
If you do have an interest in something, nothing can keep you from
learning it regardless of the interface or the teacher. If you have
an interest, ultimately you'll teach yourself.
Also, keep in mind, you can't make someone else learn something. If
they have no interest in learning about what you're trying to teach
them, they'll never "get it" no matter what you do. The interest and
curiosity *must* come from the inside, no one can give it to you.
A perfect example of this in action is my brother. I had been using
Linux for about 2 years (I think). Kenny was in high school at the
time, I think. His school didn't have any computer curriculum that I
know of. He was planning on going to college to be a psych major.
I kept telling him about Linux. At the time he was using an old
Packard Bell 486 with Windows 95 on it. His natural curiosity
eventually got the best of him and he finally asked me how he could
learn about Linux and what I could teach him. I handed him a stack
of 3" 3-ring binders which contained the Installations and Getting
Started, Network Adminstrator, and System Administrator Guides along
with a few HOWTOs.
He taught himself everything he now knows about Linux without any
formal training at all. For those of you who know him, he's turned
into a pretty decent sysadmin, and a hell of knowledgable security
guy. I have little to know interest in security. We both follow
our instincts and interests and as a result, learn most about what
we're most interested in.
Now, compare that with just about any of Marketing/Sales people at
MCLX. Not one[1] of them has ever expressed any interest in running
Linux. Not one of them knows the first thing about Linux. Yet for
almost 2 years, Derek and myself, and countless other Linux users and
evangelists have been offering to help them convert from Windows to
Linux. What better place to learn than where you have 50-60 experts
in the subject? But they have no interest, and as a result, they'll
likely never learn. It's not that Linux is too hard, or that Office
doesn't run on Linux, it's just that they don't care. And nothing we
can do to make Linux easier to learn will help them care or be
interested.
[1] Actually, there are 2 people in Sales who run Linux. Jeff
Smith, who we all know, and don't really count as a Sales guy anyway,
and another guy, Paul, who actually does have a dual-boot
system.
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