On Thu, Mar 30, 2000 at 11:21:32AM -0800, Erik Ryberg wrote:
--------------------- snip ----------------
>
> My only point in all this (I think I'm the one who started it) was to respond
> to the
> word "sadly" in the above phrase, "sadly . . . people are coming to Linux
> with zero
> understanding of command line . . ." (I realize I've altered that quote a
> little
> bit.) People can't help it. Most people in the real world do not use Unix
> at work
> and virtually nobody has it at home.
They do now :-)
> Linux is their first introduction to this way of
> doing things, and it's a pretty steep curve when you are trying to work it
> out at home
> after work.
'Steep curve' is an understatement - 'bewildering' is more like it.
> I know because I am one of those people - reasonably fearless and
> proficient with computers, but I've never even touched a machine with Unix
> installed
> on it. (of course I have mucked around in DOS) I don't think it is sad that
> people
> are coming to Linux with no Unix experience. I think it's great. That
> doesn't mean I
> think anything should change about Debian to accomodate them, it just means
> we should
> be careful to be welcoming and not elitist, because even if it makes you feel
> cool,
> elitism never helps in the long run. That's all.
Well said.
> I meant to nudge gently the
> language used, not urge any wholesale OS changes.
Have you ever seen the book "The Unix Programming Environment" by
Brian Kernighan and Rob Pike ? It's one of those rare books which
says little and teaches you a lot. That book gets my vote as a model
for welcoming tone and clear presentation (it can also teach you a lot
about Linux). I only mention it because I haven't seen one like it for
Linux. Although, IMHO, "A Practical Guide to Linux" by Mark Sobell
comes close.
Regards,
Robert Mognet
>
> Erik Ryberg
>
>
>
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