Meetings' Structure was: How is ITEC going?

[KRFinch at dstsystems.com]

Dustin-

Based on your comments, I pity new Linux users that come to you for help.
You're really coming across as being elitist and unfriendly.

If your automechanic took the same view towards you, he'd be telling you to
find your own tools and fix it yourself, and chiding you for not having
enough wrench-time to know how.  He'd probably be saying something like:
"How long does it take for some loser car owner to open up his hood and do
something boneheaded, and then come ask you for help?  Stupid is as stupid
does."  After that, he'd make fun of your grammar.

Linux is an OS by the masses, for the masses.  The more people that learn
about Linux and find it accessible, the better it will become -- surely you
realize that.  Every elitist comment that you make about Newbie (L)Users
makes Linux a little less accessible, and goes a little further towards
people thinking the Microsoft tax isn't that bad after all.  Heck, Windows
is frustrating, but at least I don't get abused when I ask for help.  If
you really think that the more evangelistic members are on the right track,
please don't stifle their efforts by belittling people just starting out.

You were there once too.

- Kevin

                                                                                                    
               
                    Dustin Decker                                                                   
               
                    <dustind at moon-lite.com       To:     kclug at kclug.org                            
               
                    >                            cc:                                                
               
                    Sent by:                     Subject:     RE: Meetings' Structure  was: How is 
ITEC going?     
                    owner-kclug at marauder.i                                                          
               
                    lliana.net                                                                      
               
                                                                                                    
               
                                                                                                    
               
                    10/15/2002 01:12 AM                                                             
               
                                                                                                    
               
                                                                                                    
               

On 14 Oct 2002, JD Runyan wrote:

> I hope you don't consider yourself an evangelist, because when someone
> can install windows, and often have all these things just work within
> the first night, then why would it be worth the effort for them to spend
> more than a month to just meet someone who can help them.

Long run on sentence needs to end in, I think, a question mark at this
point.

> I'm sorry, but that is just stupid.  That is why people outside the
> Linux community view Linux as an OS for geeks only.  I participate in
> the mail list of a group in San Diego, and they spend a lot of time
> making an environment that newbies can come to, and leave with a fully
> working Linux PC.

How long does it take an uneducated (l)user to log on as root, do
something really boneheaded, and then come back and ask you to fix it?
You can't teach an old Windows dog new Linux tricks overnight.  There
simply is NO substitute for time behind the wheel.  Stupid is as stupid
does.

> Maybe if KCLIG wants to evangelize, then they need to rethink having
> an unbending atitude like yours.

It's kclUg... U indicating Users, not just interest.  In the default
posture, it is supposed that folks who show up are _using_ Linux.
Evangelism is just a small subset of what I've seen going on in KCLUG
thus far, and I think they're on the right track.  I don't think there
are any members who are so hell-bent on being unbending...  it's hard to
be that way when you work with an OS that is so gosh darned flexible.
Unbending.... that's probably got some M$ remarks next to it in the
dictionary.

> It is completely possible to have meetings(regular social events
> centered around a common interest in Linux) and having strictly
> instructional, structured meetings.  Yes, this would take a number of
> the group members efforts to pull off.

Of course it is... this is why we're discussing it and trying to figure
out how best to pull it off, without requiring those who aren't
interested to get out of the way.  Come on out and organize it for us if
you like.

Dustin

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| Dustin Decker                     |
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| http://www.dustindecker.com |                                         |
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