On Saturday 07 May 2005 06:51, Michal Kurowski wrote: > Eric Hines [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > This isn't entirely fair. There are three kinds of newbies, and I'll say > > for the purposes of this thread that newbies also may be new to > > Linux/UNIX, not just to Samba > > [snipped] > > > For all that, we in this third kind of newbie, get lumped in with the > > first kind, and our problems get utterly ignored. > > Beautiful ;-) > > Seems there's no hope for people "new" to standard unix command switches
Those new to anything more complex than a simple knife find the early days of exploration more daunting than the searches of maturity, yet the quest for answers in maturity can take longer and require greater effort. The breaking of new ground is usually a vexing trial. Every master had a tutor or two. Some tutors are blunt objects, others are silky-smooth in their methodology. Some trainees learn best under severe tutilage, while others progress best under the gentle guidance of a silken hand. I appreciate Eric Hines reminder that we are not all the same. I guess that variety makes life more interesting. Hopelessness is a state of mind, typically put into practice as a consequence of surrender to too many disappointments. We feel with those who are in pain, and would much like to be able to solve everyone's problems. Those of us who help on the Samba mailing list, and those who document Samba, very much care about our community. The sad truth is that at times we also get tired answering the same questions over and over. Sometimes we answer out of disappointment - that usually causes the greatest reactions. I hope that we can be forgiven for those times when we fail to meet the expectations and/or needs of those who seek earnest help, and have tried to find answers from available resources. My motive in referring subscribers to the books is the hope of receiving step-by-step details of what has failed, so that I can fix it. As bad as the documentation may be, your help and feedback (no matter how vitriolic) is essential for the improvement in the quality of the documentation, and is a way of creating greater awareness that it exists. The past 18 months of writing has taught me just how difficult it is to write clear, concise, and ultimately useful documentation. For almost 10 years I have answered questions on this mailing list. No matter how well intended an answer may be, the wrong tone, or the wrong inflection will get out sometimes. To continue the work requires that we turn the other cheek and keep working - the feedback (often in anguish) is a just reward for not meeting a users' needs in an appropriate manner. My hope is that with enough feedback, and its integration into the documentation, the work will eventually become easier. Everyone on this list can play an essential part in making life better for Samba users. Many of us receive a large volume of direct emails requesting personal assistance. Several of us who answer emails on this list are known to telephone someone who is desperate for an answer. More than a few of you are aware of this. As offensive as our responses (mine in particular) may seem, please be assured that we do care. Where in the proprietary software world does one find a more user-caring solution environment? How many for-profit software providers share their experience and knowledge as generously as those who contribute on this list? So for those who feel totally ignored, I wish there was some way that we could be of greater value to you. Answering the questions raised on this list takes more time than the current group who do offer help can give. There is plenty of room for more volunteers. To those who feel ignored, let me close with the challenge: How can you entice more people to volunteer their time to help you? What can you offer them that will be more important than their work, their families, and their time? Somehow, I suspect that when you find the answer to this question your problems will be solved. - John T. -- To unsubscribe from this list go to the following URL and read the instructions: https://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/samba
