[Cbsupport] Who is #computerbank IRC for?

[Kylie Davies]

Hi all,

> > So, it's not that computerbank can't provide a certain level of
> > support (I'm
> > not currently invovled, so I don't know) but that mailing lists
> > are probably
> > not the right place to get answers to those particular questions. 
> > Someone currently active in computerbank should feel free to correct me.
>
> I don't know the answer to that either.

Um - well given the responses to Avery's requests... they are coming in...but 
I'd say this has been a test of our ability - and it seems to be happening 
now - but it has taken time. 

List membership is 120 or so  - around 40- 50 of the members are cbank 
computer users with Internet connections and there are a lot of no-mails 
(20-30). 

I don't think Avery was aware of how the list operated - and she wasn't 
expecting replies straight away. :) This is something that appears to be 
broken (as is the computerbank channel) and so we will have to work together 
to fix it... Better guidelines... ?? Protocols? Suggestions?? Definately more 
information required in the training manual on how these things work. :) 

Replies seem to be coming in now - and Avery has been able to get useful 
support from LUV lists. She has also been true to the sharing ethos - and 
posted the replies she received to us. This is encouraged and it is helpful. 

Most of the time this list is dead quite - Avery has bought life into it - 
and I bet she has even got you all thinking on the pattern making 
problems....  :) 

Avery is the kind of person this list is for - and we as Computerbank need to 
support that.  It is a part of what we do (as I knew it would be all along)  
- support end users with learning linux - making it as easy as 
possible...more importantly letting a person start where they are AT - and 
not taking them somewhere they are not ready for or do not understand. 

I would have replied to more of the emails - but was unable to until this 
week. 

As to a buddy system - definately in the IRC channel we could assign / ask 
someone from WFD to monitor it  Thu/Fri for people with help issues... 
Perhaps the people who are idling or away - could maybe /nick me_away so that 
ppl were aware that your'e not really there ... that might help... ? 

Suggestions for change / guidelines welcome... :) 

Anyway - enough said for now,

Cheers,

Kylie 

---
Kylie Davies
Victorian Branch Coordinator
Computerbank Australia Inc 









>
> As you no doubt know, people often go through computer rage (similar to
> road rage) when first learning a system.  They are keen but frustrated and
> have little patience.  They have a whole lot of questions and can't work
> out which ones are the really relevant ones, so they fire off a whole lot
> in desperation.  They are angry with themselves and the system - these
> people need kid glove handling in the early stages.  From my experience
> teaching people technology, the people who complain the loudest often are
> the best students once they calm down.  They often then turn round and
> teach others the steps they just conquered.
>
> It would be nice to have a friendlier #computerbank IRC.
>
> OTT I saw your message about creative procrastination and had to smile I
> put a new background picture on my desktop today.
>
> Jan
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Peter Eckersley
> >
> >
> > I sent that email.  I'm not currently active with Computerbank, although
> > I have been in the past, and I was attempting to help Avery.
> > He/she was asking
> > lots of questions (good), some of which require quite long and
> > tricky answers.
> > Realistically, I'm not sure if the subscribers to the computerbank
> > support list will have time to compose email responses to all of them.  I
> > also pointed
> > out a book which is available online, which answers some of them,
> > and should
> > provide some of the groundwork for answering others.  Perhaps the
> > book will be
> > too technical, but I hope not.
> >
> > So, it's not that computerbank can't provide a certain level of
> > support (I'm
> > not currently invovled, so I don't know) but that mailing lists
> > are probably
> > not the right place to get answers to those particular questions. 
> > Someone currently active in computerbank should feel free to correct me.
> >
> > --
> > Peter Eckersley
> > Department of Computer Science   &
> > mailto:pde at cs.mu.oz.au
> > IP Research Institute of Australia            
> > http://www.cs.mu.oz.au/~pde The University of Melbourne
> > _______________________________________________
> > cbsupport mailing list
> > cbsupport at lists.linux.org.au
> > http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/cbsupport
>
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