Re: tlug: High-end vs Low-end Linux (was: Transitioning to Linux)

[Jonathan Byrne <jq@example.com>]

On Mon, 28 Sep 1998, tjhaslam wrote:

> My point is that some of the rather young members of the Linux old guard
> feel that just buying the program and installing it does not make you a
> member of the Linux community.  (Forget for now whatever time and money you
> have put in; or risks taken; or et cetera).  Linux was/has been maintained
> and developed by highly skilled and talented programmers/hackers sharing
> with and helping each other.  Many of these people were/are also Sys Admin
> people.  When they run Linux at work and have problems, other Linux people
> help them out.  They look at me--or for that matter, you--and ask:__ what
> does this person bring?__

I find these assertions to be rather surprising, and not accurate.  Yes,
Linux and its applications are maintained by many skilled and dedicated
programmers all over the world, most of them volunteers.  The number of
people who get paid to write Linux programs and applications is not very
large.   However, I have not even once in my year's journey with Linux
encountered a "What skills are you bringing to the table?"  attitude.
Sure, if you looked hard enough you'd probably find somebody like that,
but I haven't stumbled across one.

Rather, my experience in TLUG (and I
think TLUG is a good microcosm of the Linux community, since we bring
together Linux users literally from all over the world, and at many
different experience levels) has been that all you need to contribute is
using or wanting to use Linux.  Look how often it is commented on the TLUG
list that the support is the best?  No matter how much of a beginner you
are, somebody is always willing to help.  

If the attitude in the Linux community were anything like "only UNIX
programmers need apply," I likely wouldn't be a Linux user today.
Fortunately, the attitude of the Linux community is that anyone who wants
an alternative is welcome, and they'll help you get started.  Furthermore,
answers to questions are never farther away than a post to the TLUG list.
This doesn't strike me as being a "what are you bringing to the table"
spirit.  

> them.  As for attitude problems, any who even considers Linux obviously has
> an attitude problem.

Huh???


Cheers,

Jonathan

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