Suggestion to Newbies
 

I am a newbie ... and I have a LOT to learn about linux. I have found this forum to be highly enlightening.

However, I see a very larger number of REPEAT questions. At the risk of sounding like a RTFM, why can't the newbies AT LEAST utilise the search tools in the forum to see if their problems have been highlighted and solved by others earlier? Is it that difficult? As difficult as reading a HOW-TO?

I have solved quite a bit of my problems by just searching for PRIOR postings instead of just blurting out all the time!

Cheers

Jason


btw, it would be nice if the forum threads could ALSO be listed by popularity. These very common problems (which are good candidates for FAQs) could be found more easily. :)

Re: Suggestion to Newbies
 

Aaaaaaaaaamen :}



Cheers,
Tink

oh my, only if everyone had the same train of thought ;)

I try to search before every post, but sometimes it is still neccessary to post anyway due to needing a simpler explanation or something that is more specific to thier certain problem.

Many times searching you will find a solution, but sometimes you won't and you will need to post anyway to get an easier explanation.

Remember, many of us are newbies and "LinuxQuestions.org -- where newbies come for help"

At least a search may help narrow down the problem though and at least you tried. We can only learn if we are willing and there is someone there to teach.

I totally agree with you, claudius753 - search thoroughly on past threads before posting.

I agree with you too... I noticed alot of dualboot questions lately... They sort of cram up the whole newbies section. Heck, after 2 hours of searching, i gave up because i couldn't find a thread that would solve my problem. So i wonder... Why do moderators not make a dualboot section so all related q's would go there and it would be a whole lot easyer to find a solution? my 2 cents...

I think there's plenty of dual/multi boot guides out there, however due to the nature of the problem there's no specific answer to it. Therefore sometimes even if the solution is right in front of you, its hard for someone with little or no experience to utilize it.

nononono, you don't understand what i was saying, but the guilt is on me. I didn't put it right.

I just thought that not only the newbies section but quite a few others are crammed with dulaboot questions (since it seems that it's a major topic, not because of me getting the answer - i'm not that self-oriented), the section idea is quite sencible don't u think?

Correct me if i'm wrong.

Each dual boot question has its own unique quirks.

Also I may add. It is easier for a newbie to post a question and get the answer with help from friends then it is to funnel through all the questions to get your answer.

But most importantly. Some of us like to communicate to others as they help us solve the problems.

I guess it comes down to the type of person you are. Whether you like working with people or whether you like working alone.

:newbie:

Posting repeats will only exacerbate the situation. Imagine having to eventually go through 10 screenfulls of a search list, to find something pertinent. You'll get FED UP and just join the bandwagon and post your probably common problem - making the same search topic into 20 screenfulls in one week ...

Then get FED UP and join in. Your more than welcome.

:study:

Another option is, if you find a thread related to your problem, but it doesn't quite give a full solution for your situation, you could add your question to that same thread, bumping it to the top of the list rather than starting yet another thread on the same subject. This will in turn help others in finding fewer duplicate threads, each with a broader range of solutions.

good point. I consider myself converted to your cause :) :) :)

Atom:newbie:

just a personal point of view, but i think this way of attacking a problem would be the worse for someone ...
cause i know when i am on here, i look for the threads that have 0 replies ...
and after that i look for a thread with 2 replies, with the second reply being from the thread starter, to see if he posted back with success or not ...
also even with this train of thought, people in a sense "hijack" the thread by asking their same question as the original posting, making in a non-zero reply thread, and "harder" for people to find ....
cause like i said, the first thing i do is hit the "view threads with 0 replies" link ...
so if it is actually necesary, it probably would be in the best interest in the poster, to actually start a new thread ...

when i see threads with like 13 posts, these are my lower on the "to view" list ... and i more so will not even consider viewing it ... unless i participated in it and i know whats going on ....

but when you guys say you do search and find nothing ... i feel this is based on not using a good "search criteria" .... cause i mean, there is sooooooooo many topics that have been asked over and over, and yet over again ... dual booting being one of them, since someone brought it up ....

anyways thats my point of view ;)