[Computerbank] frustrated help supporter

[Da Moose]

I always find if peopl ask the right question helps too? :)

Pen

On Wed, 9 Jan 2002, Shaun Branden wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 09, 2002 at 03:37:39AM +1100, Bruce McCubbery wrote:
> > 
> > How many help supporters do we have across Australia?
> Not sure, but in SA we have Dale, Romana, and myself for the unix based
> stuff, with a few others helping out with basic unix and hardware.
> 
> > Do you share the answers you find that work?
> 
> We try to get together and talk about issues. For instance, Grant put me
> onto iceWM which works well as a low end window manager for our low
> powered systems.
> 
> > How good does a help supporter have to be?
> 
> Depends, there is a need for people with general computer skills,
> hardware skills, unix user level skills and unix trouble shooting
> skills. 
> 
> > Can't the level of the question be handled by a Computerbank volunteer of
> > that level?
> 
> Not sure, you are a computerbank volunteer, lets see if you can help me
> with this:
> "The Internet isn't working"
> 
> > How might this filtering of those providing help occur?
> > If the questions asked on the proposed pre-kindergarten level list can be
> > answered (on the list) by anyone who thinks they know the answer, then
> > there's no reason for them to be tested before they start answering
> > queries.
> 
> No way. The answers need to be correct.
> 
> > (And remembering you DESPERATELY need the help) Any mistakes some
> > helper makes can then be fixed on the list, and everyone learns. 
> 
> If they get it wrong, the users will not be able to read the list- they
> may not even have a file system left.
> 
> > Helpers
> > will learn to stick to answering only what they are very sure of for
> > starters. Why answer on the list? Because others on it will have the same
> > question in their minds or will have asked it before but not fully
> > understood the answer then.
> 
> This is fine, providing that the peole answering have a clue.
> 
> > Doing as much as we can via the proposed "total clots" (aka. dummies) list
> > means many things are possible all at the same time, can you see some of
> > them? Start with the fact clients can ask a question at any time on any day.
> 
> Come into #computerbank on openprojects and ask. There is usually a
> selection of very cluey people in there willing to help. Or ask a
> question to this list, a new one whatever, but don't take the answer for
> granted unless you know that the person you are talking to knows the
> answer.
> 
> > What about those not able to be online? 
> 
> > That's to my mind a totally separate issue, the more I think about it. And
> > the more we get clients online right away the SO MUCH BETTER OFF we will be.
> 
> True, but that brings on it's own issues. 
> 
> Shaun
> -- 
> Shaun Branden, email:  shaun at pcuse.com    It's a damn poor mind
> icq: 10469563, homepage: www.pcuse.com    that can only think of
> public key www.pcuse.com/shaun/key.txt    one way to spell a word
> Computerbank SA:  www.linunix.com/cbsa    -- Andrew Jackson
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