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Re: HELP HELP HELP HELP



Hi,
        For person who has been using win32 for nearly all of his
computing era it is very difficult to understand the way the Linux
system works. GNU/Linux is a hacker OS - of the hackers,by the hackers
and for the hackers. Please read the foll in the right spirit.

        The beauty of Linux is that it is totally documented. These
documents are located right on ur desktop. The HOWTOS, Mini-HOWTOS, FAQs
and guides and the man pages make the bulk of it. There is absolutely no
such thing as an 'undocumented' feature which is highly common in the
win world. Under no circumstances does one need to spend money on
expensive books for the same knowledge.

        Instead of making a sincere effort to go through these sources
and finding out more about the matter on hand, people expect the same
from the mailing list. Configuring sound cards and SiS cards are perfect
examples. These have been discussed almost every day on the list and i
don't think we will see the end of it either. What ever knowledge i have
acquired is by reading the docs. If a commerce student like me can
bother to read and make sense of its contents, so can every one else.
All it requires is a little interest and determination.

        Thanks to Thaths, the entire mailing list archive is available
for download. How many of us have bothered to use this for a little
research ? Very few i suppose. He has done this for the benefit of the
community. Users should refer the archives before making a post in order
to avoid repetition. If this draws a blank, then only post to the list.
We are not ur slaves!
        
        U don't see people like Atul, Thaths, KD, Arun and a few other
old timers replying to each and every post. These people have some point
of time ALREADY shared their knowledge and expertise among us. U cant
expect them to repeat it. That is why the archives are for. They now
have resorted to answering only those topics that interest them. 
        
        A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. If i have no idea on a
particular topic, I prefer to keep my mouth shut. Why risk jeapordising
the other person ? This would mean that certain posts die a silent
death. Most of my posts are dead even before they make it to the list,
but i do not complain. I try other avenues like the Internet.

        I recently had a situation where i wanted to mount a CD with
noexec permission. After many sleepless nights hacking I finally found a
solution. The joy  i experienced when i achieved this is tremendous and
totally out of this world. Others too might have similar experiences. I
wanted to share this, so the next day i posted it to the list. If
someone finds it useful, it makes me happy. If some one replies to me
personally, it makes me even more happier. Only in Linux do we receive
virtual beers and pizza for our efforts.

        This is how the system works. Not by compulsion, not by force
and certainly not on monetary terms(unless he/she will benefit
commercially from it). Roughly, this is how open source movement works.
That is why some of us are using Debian GNU/Linux which works exactly on
these lines. This reminds me of Thaths reply to Prabhu on the growing
feeling towards the community among long time Linux users and their
desire to contribute back.
        
        Linux is enjoying an explosive growth in India thanx to the
efforts of PC Quest, CHIP, PC World and GT Enterprise. But i think this
kind of growth will have a negative effect on Linux. A lot of lazy
people are trying out Linux, 'crashing' Linux by doing stupid things and
then blaming the OS for their mistakes. Microsoft does not need to do
any thing special to hamper Linux growth, the newbies are doing the same
quite well. I used to push Linux among my so called 'computer literate'
friends. Ultimately what happened was i ended up doing most of the dirty
work for them. I now only help those who make an effort. The road to
Linux has to be more of choice than by chance. Using Linux without
understanding its concept will be like using win32, probably even worse.

        I realize that this post does not make any particular point and
is highly immature and vague. But i hope it makes interesting reading.
Always open for comments from fellow enlightened GNU'ers.

        Finally, A spl thanx to the old timers for making the whole
Linux experience for me a little more fun.

- -- Shanu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = = (SHANU) = = - -
  Shanker Balan                                Debian/GNU Linux 2.1
  St. Alberts College
  Cochin  India


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