500-page Forum Etiquette Literature.

[elija]

"Ubuntu sound Gateway XOIWER..." and the FIRST LINK GIVES A PERFECT SOLUTION

Then I get a huge thanks and people say things like "whoa, that worked PERFECTLY"...I feel bad taking the credit for a simple google search

I've played that game but I Console myself that at least I bothered to Google

[waterhead]

I confess that i do the same thing. What I do is Google "Linux driver for xxxx:xxxx", substitute xxxx:xxxx for the Device ID.

Works like a charm!

[Freston]

Yes and that is the difference!

New users sometimes come here, say "I installed Linux and during boot my screen goes black!!!" Now that is a valid question an experienced user may have little trouble dealing with. But a new user, well they panic. In those cases, it's good to have a human on the other end acknowledging their problem and saying what they should do.

On the other hand, you have your users who come in and claim Linux is no good because they can't change their wallpaper.

The first is a valid problem (although solvable with one google search), the second is a user not taking time to look for a solution. You can't blame the former, but the latter is just sucking up energy.


Besides, I've said it before but I mean it, this is one of the friendliest and patienestttt (whatever you write that) boards I know. Concerning Linux that is. And it shows in the rules. I don't think they are overly restrictive. Or too long.
One of my favorite boards (alas it died a long time ago) had one rule 'You're an adult, act like on. If you're not an adult, then try to act like one.' Or something to that effect. But it was smaller. There was one admin and no mods. Our adminatrix rule was final. A bigger board like this needs some rules of engagement. Just common sense. Act like an adult, but remember there may be kids reading. Keep this in mind and you'll be fine.

EDIT: oh, mine was in response to jmadero^^^. Kept screen open but was distracted

[b2bwild]

Some people just wont help themselves so how could anyone?

There are plenty of people around who don't even bother to use man command when they get problem with a command.

[nopycckn]

I'll often use man - but sometimes the wording confuses me.

[waterhead]

I'll often use man - but sometimes the wording confuses me.

Yesterday I was using vi to edit my fstab, I had to comment out a bad hard drive so it would boot. I couldn't recall the key to press to save the edited file, so I brought up the vi manual.

There is absolutely no reference to the keys to maneuver around and save a document. I was pissed! Sometimes RTFM doesn't help either!

[jmadero]

I agree that man sometimes is a bit of a hassle...I rarely deal with it because there is more information than I want to delve into but...at times I resort to that if google fails

[hazel]

I'll often use man - but sometimes the wording confuses me.

When I was new to Linux, I tried to use info rather than man whenever possible. It's much friendlier. Man is terribly concentrated.

[bigtomrodney]

On the subject of man and info I like to share this one whenever I get the opportunity: apropos. The man and info commands are great when you know what command you need but if you don't you can use apropos to search all of the man pages for terms.

[nopycckn]

Yeah, I've used apropos many times. Even when I didn't need to.