Linux newbies get help from experts
I have often said that to gain mastery in any subject two things are important. Either you find yourself a good teacher or you become one. Be a good teacher and teach yourself.
I know that finding a good teacher is not easy but believe me folks, being one is another such uphill task. Most of us can't motivate ourselves. So the question of becoming a teacher does not even arise. Then how does on learn. Simple, by taking help from the Gurus.
One question that often crops up at the Linux Users Group(LUG) meets is how to get the newbies interested in Linux. How to keep them going? Having attended plenty of such meets myself I can say that the only solution these people find is -- Writing articles and guides. They claim that these are the things that the newbie needs, that there isn't much of these newbie centric material.
Perhaps they have never heard of google. There is a lot for newbies if you only know where to look. But these articles, guides, howtos are passe. These don't help the newbies.
So what helps the newbies, a helping hand from people who know their way around Linux. People like me :D On a serious note it's the wiki's which are the best bet for a newbie.
Today groklaw brought online their wiki Grokdoc. Only in March, slashdot ran this news, when LinuxQuestions announced their own wiki, which has seen a phenomenal growth since.
Having myself been a contributor at the LQ wiki, I know that it has reached that status.
It's only through such wiki's that the newbie gets to learn directly from the experts. This is the easiest way to convey your knowledge to millions.
Online forum boards also are the easiest way for the newbies to find answers to your problems or to learn new things. LinuxQuestions has been one such online board. With over a 100,000 members it is the greatest FOSS knowledge database. I came across LQ through google, when all me Linux related queries turned up links at LQ. So many people from across the globe ought to posses the knowledge to benefit all. That is why their wiki has become an instant hit.
Bottom line: if you ever need help, turn to the wiki's where people with knowledge contribute selflessly for your benefit.
I know that finding a good teacher is not easy but believe me folks, being one is another such uphill task. Most of us can't motivate ourselves. So the question of becoming a teacher does not even arise. Then how does on learn. Simple, by taking help from the Gurus.
One question that often crops up at the Linux Users Group(LUG) meets is how to get the newbies interested in Linux. How to keep them going? Having attended plenty of such meets myself I can say that the only solution these people find is -- Writing articles and guides. They claim that these are the things that the newbie needs, that there isn't much of these newbie centric material.
Perhaps they have never heard of google. There is a lot for newbies if you only know where to look. But these articles, guides, howtos are passe. These don't help the newbies.
So what helps the newbies, a helping hand from people who know their way around Linux. People like me :D On a serious note it's the wiki's which are the best bet for a newbie.
Today groklaw brought online their wiki Grokdoc. Only in March, slashdot ran this news, when LinuxQuestions announced their own wiki, which has seen a phenomenal growth since.
Having myself been a contributor at the LQ wiki, I know that it has reached that status.
It's only through such wiki's that the newbie gets to learn directly from the experts. This is the easiest way to convey your knowledge to millions.
Online forum boards also are the easiest way for the newbies to find answers to your problems or to learn new things. LinuxQuestions has been one such online board. With over a 100,000 members it is the greatest FOSS knowledge database. I came across LQ through google, when all me Linux related queries turned up links at LQ. So many people from across the globe ought to posses the knowledge to benefit all. That is why their wiki has become an instant hit.
Bottom line: if you ever need help, turn to the wiki's where people with knowledge contribute selflessly for your benefit.
posted by LinuxLala at
9:22 PM
