Linux experts do not want to be bothered with newbie questions! (was:Re: No noobs?)

[Omer Zak]

On Tue, 2009-02-17 at 13:42 +0200, Dotan Cohen wrote:
> 2009/2/17 Omer Zak <w1 at zak.co.il>:
> > Shahar's suggestion addresses the problem, and lets busy Linux-IL
> > oldtimers ignore the newbies' questions.
> >
> > However, I am concerned about newbies, who would be confused and post
> > using linux-il rather gnubies-il, so their messages won't be flagged.
> > Also, how do we ensure that answers by Linux-IL oldtimers are properly
> > marked without having them subscribe also to gnubies-il?
> >                                       --- Omer
> 
> The problem is, what is a noob question? If I've been running Linux
> since 2001 (and I have- Red Hat 7,1 with KDE 2) but I still don't know
> how to compile a kernel (and I don't), then am I a noob? If I install
> Kubuntu for a friend and he wants to write a driver for his home made
> serial sharks-wth-frickin-lasers controller is he a noob?

(I actually prefer top-posting, as it saves me the need to scroll
downwards when I do quick reading; but I'll play along in this posting.)

The kind of newbies' questions which I prefer to avoid is the repeating
one.  One newbie asks how to mount his USB DiskOnKey.  We answer him.  A
week later, another newbie comes and (being newbie, he is totally
unaware of the list archives or of the documentation available from
Google), asks the same question.  AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

I don't see you, Dotan Cohen, asking questions which were already asked
recently.  I don't think that any of your example questions would
currently qualify as noob questions.  Long time has passed since anyone
compiled his own kernel in Linux-IL or discussed writing a driver.

                                                --- Omer


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