"Netiquette" and ranting

Ok, really. LEARN TO SPELL before asking for help. If you cannot get your problem across to the people whom you want to help, then use google. Really, we cannot help you if you cannot ask.

This is what I am talking about:
OMGOMG!!!!!111!!! Halp Me NOW! I cannot Linus my screen IS BLACK! OMG My hard drive broke my WINDERZ! M$ IS trying to Make me go to teh linuz!Halp Nowz!

Now really, that is not real, but it resembles so many posts on different message boards of new users asking for help. First, you need to realize that Linux is NOT Windows and it does not work the same. Second, read the man page or the help file for the problem you are having. Third, use google. Google searches have found solutions for about 96% of the problems I have had.

When asking for help give as much information about the problem. "My computer isn't working" is not information. "But it works in Windows" is not information. Use your damn head and include helpful information. I realize that you are new, but damn.

When a solution is offered, don't say "I have tried that", say "Ok, I will try" even though you already have. It won't do any harm if you have already done it to do it again. Do not refuse to try something because you "don't think it will work". You are the one asking for help, how the hell do you know if it will work?

If you are asked to provide a log file, provide it. We don't ask for those things just to annoy you.

With all that said, people providing the help can be a bit harsh, but remember that we hear these questions day in and day out. They get annoying because we helped someone else fix the same problem on a message board the day before, and if you would have done a google search, you probably would have found that answer. I don't care if you are new to linux, you should know how to search. If you can't search, then you fail. Turn the computer off and go outside. Do not touch said computer ever again.

Linux is not hard, but it (most of the time) will not hold your hand.

You learned Windows, now you can learn Linux. It isn't hard, just different.

What I don't understand, is that Windows admins/users say that the command line is archaic, why should they have to use the command line, it is hard, etc... but the first thing they do when someone asks about fixing their install is to have you open your terminal (which in Windows is quite a joke) and type in regedit, and start editing your registry, which itself is archaic. If you think the command line is hard to understand, try register editing. Command line commands such as ls (list), cd (change directory), rm (remove), cp (copy), and mv (move) must be too much for Windows users to handle. They would rather go change some random registry "key" in some random seemingly encrypted place and then reboot to see some sort of change that may or may not work. No thanks. Give me plain text configuration files anyday.

The command line is not scary, or archaic. It is faster. Yes, you may have to learn something, but that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for about 90% of computer users. I understand that most users want to point and click, and that is what Windows is for. Point and click your virii and malware, point and click your brains away.

That is about all the ranting I have for today.