500-page Forum Etiquette Literature.

[nopycckn]

No offense to forum websites, but ...
I've read so many things now acting like you're assaulting someone when you ask a simple question in a forum. It's ridiculous. If everyone felt the way the writers in all these "forum etiquette guides" feel, everyone would be put in jail for posting stupid questions to keep them off the streets and to force them to stop wasting everyone's time or upsetting all the experts and aspiring experts in the world. I'm tired of reading this. For many questions, Googling gets you absolutely nowhere, and many sites are questionable at best when it comes to accuracy. I've read several articles and how-tos from "reliable" sources, and had them end up being wrong - pretty much always outdated. At very least, they're far from being explained well, forcing you to go read something from another Googled site for a while. For opinions on things, everyone has a different opinion or they're like infomercial pitchmen who've had one too many Red Bulls. It's ridiculous.
Reading these people's etiquette guides - they all turn in into Kevin Spacey from the movie "Seven". I've never seen so much repetitive reading in my life other than license agreements.

[b2bwild]

For many questions, Googling gets you absolutely nowhere, and many sites are questionable at best when it comes to accuracy.

You lack of patience ... I suggest you meditating or 20 min of yoga everyday.

I've read several articles and how-tos from "reliable" sources, and had them end up being wrong - pretty much always outdated. At very least, they're far from being explained well, forcing you to go read something from another Googled site for a while.

Chill, that's why google is just called "First Step" then use Custom Linux search, then Forums search.

[elija]

DUDEZ I NEEDS UR HELPZ QUICK. NOT TELLING WHAT PROBLEM IZ.WHISH THERE WAS A POST ON ETTIKETTE ON THEZ FO RUMS

LUVZ

CUTIE

They are there for a reason

[hazel]

I'm puzzled. I find Google useful, though I admit that when you google an error message you often just get postings from other people who got the same error and no answers.

As to etiquette, a lot of it is just common sense. It really does help to use an informative title. "n00b needs help!!!!!!" doesn't tell anyone anything and a lot of people don't even look at posts with titles like that. And saying in the body of your post precisely at what point the error occurred and what the error message said is obviously useful for diagnosis. "Can't get onto the Internet" or "Installation doesn't work" could cover lots of different problems.

I don't think anyone ever got flamed on this forum for asking a question sensibly, even if it was a fairly basic one. In that sense, there are no silly questions, only silly ways of asking them.

[bigvoo]

I've learnt more in linux-forums, that i have any wher else, including some expensive books...maybe once in a while i see a reply that is a little harsh. but I also have noticed ( what I believe to be ) m.s trolls using 3000 year old subterfuge techniques to simply insult linux users, here's a ( hypothetical example of how this goes ):: usually starts " I HATE WINDOWS" then, at the end of a long rambling post...without ever asking a question...ends up by saying....WOW i just tried the NEW windows and it's terrific, only takes my comp 11 minutes to boot, you guys should try it...linux with never work...lol. c'mon we've all seen these posts, and as for helping people...I try to, I'm a super-non-technical-noob myself, but anything I can do to help, I will, even if you ask in the privatge messenger.

[waterhead]

This is exactly why we try to keep the Linux Forum Rules to a bare minimum.

It basically boils down to respect and order. Respect the rights, opinion and beliefs of others. And don't do things that disrupt the orderly fashion of the forums.

Whenever I become irritated by a member, I try to remember what it was like when I was an internet newbie. I once was admonished for posting in an "old" thread, it was only 2 months old. That wasn't here, but we do discourage it here too. But 2 months??!! Come on!!

So, treat others as you would have them treat you. To paraphrase Hazel:
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people! HAR! HAR! (just kidding, you gotta keep it light)

[jmadero]

yeah I'd have to second almost everything said. Basically:

Google is our friend, a lot of us who post often google things to help others, we don't just know the stuff....especially system specific questions. It comes down to learning how to use Google, not that Google isn't useful

The forums are our friend -- most people here are patient and will walk you through questions but at the same time, if we link a site or are able to find answers in less than 2 minutes using Google...it can become a bit frustrating. I'd say at least 50% of the questions I've answered took less than 5 minutes of google work

Lastly, you always have the right to ignore someone or point out if you think someone is getting rude. If they respond in a way you don't find appropriate, go back to the question and ignore their comments. I rarely see this kind of behaviour though

[nopycckn]

I always have trouble using Google. For very simple questions, it's very quick. For questions I would consider simple and common, I've sat here for at least an hour searching and looking and searching and looking and I just give up. For complex issues, it's impossible for me to use it. I look in forums and this and that, but I always come across something that doesn't quite work or is outdated. It's very frustrating.

[elija]

Search Engines are mostly brilliant if you know roughly what you are looking for. They can also be really annoying when searching for a specfic error and you either get:

1. 100's of people with the same problem and no answers
2. The same (often wrong) solution appearing on hundreds of bloody sites cos they've spidered it from the original!

Anyway, who are you going to trust?

Some random bloke off the internet or us?

[jmadero]

yeah I agree that the search engines can be annoying...I can also say that sometimes someone will post a question such as:

"no sound on my Gateway XOIWERJFDSKFLG"

so I'll google

"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