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....and subsequent replies deleted for clarity (and to avoid top-posting ;-). Please consider the following subjects:
Mr. Day Where is the kernel source What happened to gqview What is top-post Fedora extras is extra Re: How TO unsubscribe Re: Does Fedora include Linux OT: (whatever) RE: OT: (whatever)
From last month only (probably some I missed), but there is certainly acommon theme going all the way back to the beginning of the internet for these type mailing lists. Notice I didn't use a capital "I" - wonder how many will find that personally objectionable?
I have a theory about why these little electronic fracases occur and wonder if anyone may agree or disagree. And furthermore, a suggestion to assuage this problem in the future.
Most will probably agree Linux (and open source in general) is in many ways, a fundamentally different beast by it's very nature than the commercial software it competes with. But they share predominantly the same user-customer base. Therein lies the rub. I will exclude Redhat itself from further consideration, so as not to cloud the issue, which is BTW - mailing list friction, in case you haven't noticed.
Fedora's supporters (frequent repliers to these posts) rightfully view the lesser mortals here with skepticism and disdain because they are who they are and nobody is getting paid. Fair enough.
Those newbies and un-initiated incurring the Fedora god's wrath feel (for whatever reason, right or wrong) they are not getting what they bargained for - even if all it cost them was a dime for their ISP and a few blank CD-Rs. Also understandable. So what is the problem? Bad attitude. The solution? Attitude adjustment. Here's my advice:
Alexander, et al: You guys are great, but get off your high horse. Fedora is a product, like it or not. Because you are not selling it doesn't mean you shouldn't consider treating it (and your "customers" - ahhhhhgh!) as such. Might not the right answer to all those upcoming subjects similar to above be no reply at all? You have the right to remain silent, and never be wrong for that.
All others: There is little hope for you. Don't expect anything and you will most often be pleasantly surprised. You are not really customers, so don't act like it.
Everyone: Don't take it personally! Chill... BTW, the atmosphere and level of real technical support here has improved somewhat over the past few months, IMHO.
Thoughts?
Tks...
Just one thought....
Anyone who feels abused or belittled should really have a look at a few other technical lists. One that comes to mind immediately is the Slackware list along about the time that RH8 was announced. It was bad. I unsubscribed after a day or two and made up my mind I'd drive RH7.3 'til the wheels fell off before I'd paint myself into the corner of depending on *that* bunch of hooligans for answers to my questions.
Face it, the people who provide most of the answers to technical questions spend more time honing their technical skills than attending Charm School. That's just the nature of the beast.
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