On 2011-12-01 16.25, John Tate wrote: > I'm 24 years old. I was a Linux hacker since I was 13. I am a bit of a guru > and do my own Kerberos and such on an all BSD/Linux network. OpenBSD and > Debian Linux. I love OpenBSD, I'm a bit weird because I use bash. I can put > up with being made fun of. At 13 I didn't just start learning Linux I > started learning C++ as well. I failed to apprehend it properly at that > age, but at an older age I relearned it well. I am the guru sort of guy, I > know a hell of a lot but I'm still connecting it and in that sense still > learning.
John, just to put things into perspective... I know you've been bashed quite a bit for the above, as well as for your tendency to ask first and shoot later, which is good if you're a law enforcement officer but not so good if you're trying to blend into a knowledgeable community full of professionals who, frankly, are busy guys. I, on the other hand, kind of like the cockiness you display above - self confidence is important in order to succeed just about anywhere in the world. Don't listen to those who mock you for spelling errors or for having the confidence to do things and stand up for yourself - but *DO* listen to those who, without having to, volonteer their time in order to help you and others on this list and anywhere. Now for the perspective part. I, like you, started out young. Got my first computer at age 11, which was more or less the last my parents saw of me for the next few years or so. It also got me a good head start into the then emerging computer industry; by the time I was 17 I landed an internship with a local unix computer manufacturer due in part to my knowledge of low level machine language programming (but mostly because my father and the CEO of that company were buddies...). By the time you were born, I had about 5 years of unix application, utility and kernel development experience to add to my five years of more or less low level hacking in one of the popular Z-80 based personal computer platforms of the day. I felt much like you do. I was on top of the world. :-) I was young and I was *good* at what I did, and I worked in an emerging field where there were, perhaps, a few hundred people IN THE WORLD doing what I did at the level I were at. Well, that was nearly 25 years ago. I'm 45 now. Since then, I've realized that what I know is not nearly as important as what I *don't* know. I'm still constantly learning new stuff - every day I pick up something new and interesting. I know now what I didn't know then - there is always someone else who knows this particular part of the equation better than you. AND I LISTEN TO THEM. Hopefully they listen to me in turn other times - not because I tell them I'm a guru or whatnot but because I've shown that I only open my mouth when I know what I'm talking about. I'm still very confident in my own abilities though, and because of that I'm good at selling my consulting services to those needing my particular skill set. Therefore, the confidence and cockiness of youth are not at all bad traits. You just need to be more aware of other things. Don't waste time feeling insulted by faceless people on mailing lists - adapt and overcome! Study the archives, learn from those whose advice have proven adequate, correct and useful in the past and ignore the trolls and those who have nothing more useful to share than correcting your spelling errors. Fight the urge to join the dark, trolly side! And, wax on. Wax off. Regards, /Benny >>> Is it true that occasionally we attract people who either love bullying or >>> are just lazy and pretending to be one of the clever? >>> >> Well I get messages that are worthless and seem to be insults. > >> >>> It just figures some of these people sit on the list, and email you poorly >>> researched crap with no answers contain. >>> >>> If you hate a question, it truly doesn't belong, bug me. >>> >>> But if you just can't answer a question, ignore it. >>> >>> John Tate. >>> >>> Note: Yes, it's not my list. >>> >>> >> John, if you don't mind, I'll give you some advice: Do your homework >> before posting to the list. Your basic instinct is to click "Send" instead >> of thinking first. I've lost count of how many of your posts were >> retracted by yourself, with a big "oops, my bad" or were replied to with >> RTFM-type responses. I got a kick out of one retraction where you said >> something like "Sorry, I was drunk." >> >> You're obviously new here. Sure, it's a tough crowd at times, but that >> only happens when people don't bother reading the FAQ, or the man pages, or >> trying things out for themselves. A lot of people have asked "stupid" >> questions or said something "dumb" -- myself included -- and got painful >> responses. I've had my share of facepalm experiences and had my ass handed >> to me plenty of times, but I deserved it. >> >> But you know what? I try to not make a regular occasion of it. It seems >> you do. >> >> I help a lot of people off-list, and I know for a fact many others do the >> same. I've found through years of experience there are two kinds of people >> on this list: those that need a little help and pointed in the right >> direction, and those that need their hands held for every step. Guess >> which category I put you in? And that's exactly why I've helped you a >> grand total of zero times. >> >> Now you have the gall to come on this list and insult the people that are >> trying to help you. I don't think there's anyone on this list that sits >> idly, waiting for an opportunity to "pick on" or "bully" someone. Get a >> grip, get some thicker skin, and most of all, RTFM first. >> >> I guarantee that if you take my advice, you'll find this list to be a >> very, very valuable resource. Remember, there is a difference between >> *reading* and *comprehension*. Work a little harder on the latter and I >> think you'll find you won't be "picked on". >> >> Stop playing the victim. You're not the first and it's old. >> >> -- >> Scott McEachern >> >> https://www.blackstaff.ca >> >> > > -- internetlabbet.se / work: +46 8 551 124 80 / "Words must Benny Lofgren / mobile: +46 70 718 11 90 / be weighed, / fax: +46 8 551 124 89 / not counted." / email: benny -at- internetlabbet.se
