[clug] Why do we do what we do in Linux? [was Re: Text editor]

[Bryan Kilgallin]

Thanks for your input, Scott:

> When you have an itch, do you:-
> ;get on the phone?
> ;ask a neighbour?
> ;shop around for a de-itcher?
> ;scratch it yourself?

A Theravada Buddhist mentally observes the phenomenon until it goes away!

>> Adults
>> typically learn by means of self-directed projects.
> My apologies, I don't understand the relevance (I can be a bit thick).

Eighty percent of adult learning is non-formal. By contrast, I recall an 
institution which required full-time participation, had a stipend and 
rigid curriculum, exams and a set time-frame. But most adults instead 
might set for themselves a hobby project with more flexible methods of 
getting to a goal.

> You ask questions on this list - you'll get an answer, almost always as
> a sincere attempt to provide you with useful assistance.

It would be helpful to have more social engagement, so that we could 
find out about each other.

> If the answer doesn't suit/offends you:-
> ;1. it's just words, from people you may never meet, and may not respect
> if you did, and don't "know" you.

Each of us comes from a different perspective. We come to a problem from 
various backgrounds.

I have a scientific personality. But I'm not steeped in Linux heritage.

> Grant them to possibility of ignorance
> - (and the reverse).

I find it necessary to explain my perspective. Whereas others may 
dislike my suggestions, because they have different backgrounds!

> The internet means the ability to hear from people
> we'd avoid in real life - and robs us of the visual ability to see them
> coming.

I understand that this e-mail list is text-only.

> ;2. consider that /sometimes/ people "learning" make the mistake of
> "asking how to do something they don't know how to do" *and* then *3.
> tell* the person who offers assistance "how it should be done"

I understand that I may commonly make errors of etiquette! But perhaps 
questioning where differences arise, and thought on how to accommodate 
another's perspective, would help. I have discovered that there are 
various races of Linux. So that three people may offer suggestions, but 
only one of those might be directly applicable to my distribution.

> As to how disparate interests formalise an arrangement to work towards a
> common ends, and what they believe - there are various examples as you'd
> expect from such a large community.

The size and type of community, I am only just now getting to grips 
with. Whereas I had Ubuntu installed at the recommendation of a 
tech-head who said that it was closest to my previous Mac OS X!

Best wishes,
B.

-- 
www.netspeed.com.au/bryan/