Re: Time to shut down this list?

From: Joshua Tinnin (krinklyfig_at_spymac.com)
Date: 12/24/04

  • Next message: Joshua Tinnin: "Re: Manpage interpreter" 
    To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 18:52:29 -0800

    On Thursday 23 December 2004 06:22 pm, "Darren Pilgrim"
    <dmp@bitfreak.org> wrote:
    > > From: S Jagger
    > >
    > > I will voice my opinion on this matter.
    > >
    > > The freebsd-newbies list should be an open area for new users to
    > > FreeBSD. As I read earlier.. people are intimidated by
    > > posting to other
    > > groups.
    > >
    > > This list should be for anything and everything. Questions or
    > > Suggestions.
    > >
    > > Stefan
    >
    > The end of this thread contains the phrase, "The charter of this list
    > was hashed out years ago, is now well-established, works reasonably
    > well

    At the risk of sounding impertinent, I disagree that it works reasonably
    well. I do think there is some value in a newbie list, but 50%+ of the
    traffic on this list for extended periods of time is technical
    questions, a few scattered answers and admonitions to ask the questions
    list. For some people, the questions list is overwhelming and
    intimidating. I think this list would work reasonably well under the
    current charter if it were moderated. I don't have much history with
    the FreeBSD community, but since I brought it up, I'm willing to offer
    to do that. I do have extensive experience moderating email lists. But
    I also think that this list would "work" better if it had a slightly
    different charter which allowed for entry-level tech questions, and a
    clause that reiterates all users should be polite to people who ask
    what might seem like silly questions. I think that's what newbies need
    more than anything: a place to ask questions about rudimentary problems
    without feeling a sense of intimidation about doing it. Some of the
    questions would be/are basic *nix stuff, which isn't necessarily
    on-topic in questions, but it would be nice for those very new (to *nix
    in general) users to have a place to ask about that sort of thing.
    Anyway, my two cents. Other than that, if nothing else I hope that this
    list can survive in some useful form.

    - jt

    > and isn't likely to change much any time soon."
    >
    > This thread can be expected to cover these additional points:
    >
    > - The -questions list has a bug: when a common or newbie
    > non-technical question is posted, a race condition occurs in which
    > everyone tries to wait for someone else to answer the question.
    >
    > - Those of us who read and answer technical questions posted here
    > are urged do so with redirection to -questions. Failure to do so
    > usually results in careful application of clue-oriented, dimensional
    > wood-products.
    >
    > - Also recommended are pointers to additional resources, such as
    > searchable mailing list archives and pointers to other threads or
    > guides adressing the queried subject.
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