Comments on: Getting the Best Help on Linux Forums

By: crustyasp

crustyasp — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:48:48 +0000

Was reading on the Ubuntu forums, and following the responses found your link to this article. Very good advice and well written. I also read the article by Raymond and did not find it overly offensive.

At times we noobs forget that those on help forums are volunteers and each response given in most cases are what the volunteer sees as helpful to the question asked.

Speaking from experience, because Linux and sometimes computing is a total new experience, the most simple answer sometimes seems totally geek.

I for one have forgotten at times that the help volunteered is offered freely and as a service of the volunteer, because they care and want to help. Because my grey matter can not compute the help offered I should not take that frustration to the forum.

Thank you for a great post.

I am learning to follow links on the forums, there “are gems hidden in some of them, and I just found one. Thanks.

By: Bing

Bing — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:21:48 +0000

I am new to ubunto and i dont know how to use it. i run the synaptic package manager coz i want to install something, but it says E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run ‘sudo dpkg –configure -a’ to correct the problem.
I dont know how to run manually the sudo dpkg. where can i run the sudo dpkg? what command i need to used? thank you & i hope u can help me regarding this problem.
thank u so much.

By: d'Arc.LP

d'Arc.LP — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:08:11 +0000

Hi.I really need help .:$.
I tried to install Cinelerra from :
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/howto-install-cinelerra-in-ubuntu-gutsy-gibbon.html ( please don count as spam ).
And after i done all what it does says, now my apt-get update dont work.
My synaptic manager nither works :(.
It showes to me :
E: The method driver /usr/lib/apt/methods/ttp could not be found.
PLEASE help me :$.

By: Peter Wallis

Peter Wallis — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:29:07 +0000

Great document, should be on the front page of Ubuntu. Politeness will always be appreciated by those who try to help.
I have had to ask for lots of help over the years, (and sometimes for what turned out silly questions). But there is usually some kind soul who will take pity.
3 Cheers!

By: archolman

archolman — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:44:29 +0000

Thanks for an informative & useful article. I have just found it, & have bookmarked your guide pages as well.

See you in the forums!

By: Rick Galbraith

Rick Galbraith — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:59:48 +0000

Thanks again for encouraging patience.

P.S. if you see a thread and can expand it into a tutorial, it may help those of us who google the forums for answers already submitted.

By: Jim Haslip

Jim Haslip — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:21:42 +0000

Thanks for the time to write this article and present it for us n00bies. Much appreciated.

By: Chris Edgell

Chris Edgell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:31:38 +0000

I’m so glad I stumbled upon Tutorials on Forum Basics, Aysiu. I’m thinking that it is not to be found in the stickies leading up the absolute beginners…..I’ve learned so much and actually want to change my name, I’ve done so much so poorly. I really do want to change my name, where do I go to do that?

Thanks so much

By: gardenerman

gardenerman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:53:00 +0000

Thanks for the tips aysiu as a relative noob to both the computer 1 1/2 year and the linux community I’ve yet to install it, and have just registered .

I shall bear the points that you outline in mind before asking dumb questions as I am about to launch into a new build before I install a linux operating system on the system I eventually build myself.

I will use the advice in your post to help with questions I will have for other forums that I use to help with the build and when it comes to the installation and use of whichever linux distro that i choose I will be back asking questions here no doubt in that. lol

By: Xochi

Xochi — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:16:10 +0000

I found your post very helpful and your idea of linking a typical “help yoself, u damm foo!” tirade very brave.

It is discouraging to seek help and find attitude.

Sure, most help comes from volunteers and I sympathize; spoonfeeding people can be frustrating, but there’s no reason to be nasty. “How to ask questions the smart way” is not, in my opinion, a terribly smart article.

I actually do relish on the occasional retort.