Rodolfo J. Paiz wrote:
At 03:06 PM 7/7/2004, Geoffrey Leach wrote:
My question to the list is this: When is a newbie no longer a newbie?
Hmm. Food for thought here... a newbie is no longer a newbie when:
1. He/she understands that Linux is in some ways far better than Windows and in some ways nowhere near Windows and has chosen to accept that (while working to improve it, of course). He/she has a clue as to why those differences exist.
2. He (the "she" is assumed) can solve some of his own problems by reference to /usr/share/doc, Google, LDP, MARC archives, etc.
3. He has learned how to seek help effectively on mailing lists, fora, or IRC when self-help fails to provide results. This is probably equal parts netiquette, smart questions, and common sense plus common courtesy.
4. He has managed to successfully accomplish some of his core tasks using Linux. That is, Linux is now an actually useful tool to him, not just a neat curiosity item.
How's that for a starter list?
Well, this is interesting, because, according to your list I'm half and half. Guess I'm either a "new" or a "bie." I can install Linux, but I haven't a clue about compiling the kernel. Not even sure why I'd want to. I can install an rpm package, if I spend 30 minutes with the man page, but I don't know what to do with a source file or how to do whatever you do to a tarball. My ability to make effective use of Linux is limited by these walls I keep butting into. I'd really be disinclined to label myself a non-newbie because I'd feel like a fool otherwise. I'm guaranteed to ask a very newbie like question at any moment. Like, "What's a grep?"
I always figured a non-newbie was someone who has a fairly versatile grasp of the whole package, i.e., has a fairly good handle on the big picture so that s/he has a pretty good base from which to diagnose failures or otherwise to figure things out. Maybe I try to make the class so large that you won't get angry at me for asking something which, according to your judgment, I darn well ought to know.... Would it be useful to create an intermediate category of earnest and well-intentioned adopters who have gaping holes in their grasp of the fundamental concepts? A "Wannabie?"
