[Sussex] RE: Linux and the Average User

[John D.]

Richie Jarvis wrote:
> John D. wrote:
>
>> I suspect that lots of you on the list have missed the "User" bit.
>>
>> Users don't want to have to configure anything. They just "want it 
>> too work". Not too spend hours/days/weeks (in my case years), trying 
>> to learn how something works, just too get it to "go"!
>>
>> The main reason I'm here in the first place, is because I want to 
>> "use" my pc, but I don't want to have to use it with MS products. For 
>> me, it's a social/ethical/moral problem. If the rest of the world 
>> wants to remain hypnotised by Gates and MS, well thats surely their 
>> choice.
>>
>> Hence, my biggest "soapbox subject" being documentation. Most of "you 
>> lot" have considerable levels of IT knowledge, which too me, suggest 
>> not needing instructions/howtos/etc being written in "plain" English, 
>> but for me, it's the opposite.
>>
>> So I'll continue to say that you shouldn't substitute enthusiast with 
>> "User".
>>
> Ah, but John, your no longer an 'average' user - someone who manages 
> to use Linux the way you do cannot simply be an average user!
Gareth Ablett wrote:
> From: John D. [mailto:john at johnsemail.eclipse.co.uk]
> Subject: Re: [Sussex] RE: Linux and the Average User
>
>  
>>I suspect that lots of you on the list have missed the "User" bit.
>>
>>Users don't want to have to configure anything. They just "want it too
>>work". Not too spend hours/days/weeks (in my case years), trying to
>>learn how something works, just too get it to "go"!
>>
>>The main reason I'm here in the first place, is because I want to
>>    
>"use"
>  
>>my pc, but I don't want to have to use it with MS products. For me,
>>    
>it's
>  
>>a social/ethical/moral problem. If the rest of the world wants to
>>    
>remain
>  
>>hypnotised by Gates and MS, well thats surely their choice.
>>
>>Hence, my biggest "soapbox subject" being documentation. Most of "you
>>lot" have considerable levels of IT knowledge, which too me, suggest
>>    
>not
>  
>>needing instructions/howtos/etc being written in "plain" English, but
>>for me, it's the opposite.
>>
>>So I'll continue to say that you shouldn't substitute enthusiast with
>>"User".
>>
>>    
>
>I get your point and although valid, a user of what ever level doesn't
>stop becoming a user.
>If one was to consider an average person regardless of touching a pc
>before or not then, and then class them in the need or ability of
>computers you will have a different answer to what you would get from an
>average 'user' of pc's.
>
>Oh and technically considering your interest and involvement in SLUG
>that would class you as an enthusiast.
>  
Ah, semantics!

No Richie, I'm still an average user (below in my view - you have no 
idea how rubbish I am at this "linux lark") :D

And no Gareth, I see the logic of anyone using a pc being a "user", but 
surely it's relative inasfaras the term "average user" being someone who 
has had exposure to computer use, but can't really progress beyond that 
sort of level without assistance/support/guidance (and by that, more 
than just how to type querys into a search engine, because logic 
dictates that that is a basic function - though those without pc 
exposure, may also need pointers to get them started).

It seems to me a bit like the definitions of IQ. It's all very well 
someone taking a "standardised" IQ test, but that very test is relative 
to the culture, background and language (and in some cases faith) of the 
"tested".

Oh and as for the allegation of enthusiast, I deny that. The luxury of 
being able to use my pc without having to rely on the virtual monopoly 
of MS, is something I've come to value (in truth, when I first installed 
linux, I didn't even know what it was). This has lead to my understand 
of F/OSS attitudes and view, which are comparable, in many ways, to 
socialism (IMO).

But to get to the stage that I have, I've had to learn lots of stuff 
that I would rather have not had too. So taking that into account, I 
feel that to be able to encourage others who might like the choice I 
could lonely be described as an enthusiast in the very loosest of ways. 
Sure, it would be great to have the "fire" and ability to learn enough 
to make a real difference in the "world of SLUG", but to be honest I 
have enough on my plate just getting my head round the basics of how to 
use a linux system (Ha! any kind of system really, even one based on MS) 
properly. Hence I have to remain in my current position of asking what 
I'm sure some must consider "dumb" questions and the occassional 
arsehole comment or two!

regards

John D.

p.s. Oh and off topic, erm could someone explain the "hows and whys" of 
why, when I look at the archives the various e-mail address appear as 
they do, whether this can be done with static pages and how successful 
it is with fending off huge amounts of spam ???