I think you may want to at least move to Hardy. I use KDE3.5.10 and most of that kind of problem have been solved. I can't remember the problem before, but if you have been waiting to move to the next level, you will like Hardy more than the other distributions once you get used to the changes. It really doesn't take that long to make the adjustment, and the thing you hate to lose is still available, only better.

Steven

I think the tutorials in the wiki could be kept up todate with a report box where as a member could report the changes or edits and a mod could check and make the changes. I know this method would create additional work for the mods but it would not work with all the members being able to get their hands on the tutorials.

Hi,
Most Newbies would not know enough to evaluate their query at the proper or fair level. Too them it would always be presented as difficult, urgent or important since the post is self minded interest.

The response to a Post/thread by anyone can always supply some assistance. I've seen posts by Newbies that were very well versed but did not have technical content therefore we as responders would request additional information. The OP would then respond back without providing the requested information or would edit the data because of fear/paranoia about intrusion.

Obviously we don't need your 'keys' or 'pass codes' but when posting diagnostic information it should be un-edited/modified. My meaning here is that a lot of individuals are knowledgeable about systems but they don't convey or intercommunicate with individuals as well as they do with with other types within their field. Add to the mix the written communication, language barriers and of course personalities then you have potential problems. Zealots come to mind here. Too diagnose something you must garnish information to allow one to assimilate so the proper answer(s) are presented to the query.

I feel the self evaluating of a post would not work. How many post do you see marked; 'Help', 'Urgent' or even 'Important to me'? Read through the forums an you will find loads.

I think we as helpers do filter pretty good. Add the 'MODS' and you get a balanced forum. Sometimes the 'MODS" do jump in to quick but they too are users with experience.

You appear to have managed to post a thread before. Personally, I'm not sure what you find difficult. Visit www.linuxquestions.org/questions for a list of forums, choose the one most appropriate for your question (i.e. click its name to be taken to it) and click the "New Thread" button. If you scroll down on the Post New Thread page, you'll see some options, one of which allows you to receive email notifications when someone replies to your thread. Obviously if you don't want that, you can just bookmark your thread once it has been created and visit it when you like, to check for replies.

What I would really like to see is the removal of Red Hat 9 from the Download Linux section of the site. I know there's a notice telling people that it's no longer supported, but I think part of the problem is that people don't actually read things and we're still seeing quite a few questions in which members state they're using RH9.

Hi,
That's not the only one!

People do not read stickies, notices or even the LQ rules for that matter. Humans!

Yes, I know! I said, "people don't actually read things" meaning things in general . Of course, that isn't to say that stickies and notices should be removed. However, I think RH9 should be gotten rid of because I don't think it's of much practical use to anyone any more.

The deluge of response to the initial post is a clear statement of the people and purpose of this site: you do an amazing service to those like myself, totally ignorant and extremely desirous to learn Linux, and you do it for nothing more than accolades and appreciation. Keep up doing this wonderful work and know us newbies love and need you. As for criticism? I need to learn all that is offered before I am qualified to throw stones. Thank you.

Hi,
Most participants do the assistance as a means to give back to the community. I know that is my reason for participation. It would have been nice to have a facility of this type years ago to aid in my endeavors but sadly only peers. Some early 'usenet' but that too was limited. Arpanet was fairly restrictive at the time. So we used the 'BBS'.

The 'bbs' were all we had public back in the mid to late 70s and early 80s. Boy does that ever make me feel old!

Except that would stuff people like this http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-my-pc-693997/

I'd like to see some extra hoops for posters to jump through when the thread they are posting to has its latest post one month (just for an example) or more ago.

The number of posts I've seen lately on topics that had their last post some time ago, and either appear solved or the OP doesn't appear to have ever returned is enormous. Some people simple don't bother reading what they are posting to. I saw a 6yr zombie post yesterday!

How easy would it be to add an "add code tags" icon next to the "add quote tags" icon in "post quick reply"?

I think it would be really useful if there were three buttons for submitting a post:

1. Post question
2. Post information
3. Post question (no command line answers, please)

Then we could save a lot of time with new users. When they post their first question (after not reading any FAQs or searching to see if their question has already been answered) the linuxquestions.org question submission engine could produce a list of posts that are a best match to the keywords in the question. Using some database magic, you could even detect when a new user was posting a question before reading the FAQs, and include the relevant FAQs at the top of the results list. It would also be nice if we could match words in the subject with a list of known triggers and produce an extra step in the submission process prompting them for a better subject. This would put an end to "urgent" posts.

Also, most new users' questions have been already been answered. Almost everyday someone posts a question about how to get their Broadcom wireless device working in Ubuntu. I just searched for "Broadcom" and "Ubuntu" and got 600 results. Since I have personally solved this problem all the way to getting WPA working, it is astonishing to think that we cannot help these new users more efficiently. If we could detect when a new user was posting a question that has already been answered, we would astonish the new user, and save everyone valuable time.

I would also like to note a disturbing trend. Recently, I have seen new users become confused when I respond to their question with instructions for the command line. I honestly do not use the GUI in any version of Linux enough to help these users. However, it usually takes me two or three posts to realize they do not know what the command line is. After I have given them detailed instructions for solving their problem, they respond with, "ok, now please tell me how to solve my problem." So, as I said before, we need a submission button that says, "Post question (no command line answers, please)."

If they don't know what the command line is, how would they know to use the "no command line" version?

We could reverse it:

1. Post question (command line answers too, please)
2. Post question
3. Post information