DSL Ideas and Suggestions :: Tweak for the "Getting Started" page



The easy way, as cbagger01 was originally trying to get at, of keeping the dillo start page from popping up, is to put a # in front of the entry where it is listed in the .xinitrc file. The "." in front of a file in Linux means that it's a hidden file. However, if you open EmelFM and click the "H" in the upper left corner, then the hidden files appear. Then you can open .xinitrc with Beaver (just double click on it and select view file. Beaver will open it automatically), and add the # to the beginning of the line. Then save and close.
I do like the idea of controlling this action through a boot option. There are several things in DSL that could easily be controlled like this with a few extra lines in the startup scripts.  This could allow more control of the system when running a vanilla liveCD at least....with frugal DSL systems it can be covered by backup/restore or mydsl.
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I take offense to your characterization of Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as an "elementary school" dictionary.

A relative of mine once worked for M-W as a proofreader and I can assure you that they take their work VERY seriously and are highly regarded in the USA.

Now if my aunt happened to be reading this forum, she might take offense with your post since it is an indirect criticism of her work and the work of her colleagues.

Does this make your comment rude?

Not in my world.


I digress Cbagger01, rudeness (as I learned in college) IS a matter of the opinions of others (especially in the USA), and is a part of the widely accepted standard of manners.

If I have offended you with my comment about Merriam-Webster. I offer my apology.

DSL certainly is not the first Linux distribution I have used. However, DSL is certainly my favorite. I see a LOT of potential in this OS, and it disturbs me to see such a casual approach to helping others break into this OS. It is even more so when offhand comments are made that can push others away.

Regardless of whether or not the development team gets paid for what they do... Does not mean that the community as a whole shouldn't help by offering support to the newcomer. In fact, doing so might eventually help put John and Roberts into a position where they can make money doing what they love...

Remember, it is their hard work that has made all of this possible for everyone here.

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PS:

If you are waiting for me to apologize to an unspecified list of people (who refuse to read the getting started document and then post help questions that have already been answered 50 or more times) that I supposedly offended due to a humorous reference in a post to the developers of DSL, you are going to be waiting for a looong time, buddy.


Have you considered for even a moment that the person who asks for help (more than once) might just have some type of a learning disability, and might have read the start popup and don't quite grasp it? Frustrating as that may be to those who answer their questions, one thing should be obvious... They apparently like this OS so much that they are coming back to try to figure it out. So some of their posts might not be unwarranted after all.

Also, who really knows their circumstances? Persons with disabilities don't necessarily like to broadcast it to everyone.

If this really is that frustrating to people here, then why not ask for a quick forum search?.. It won't solve 100% of the repeats, but it will trim them back more :)

My last statement in this post is; what does it really hurt to offer an apology and possibly even a statement regarding negative sounding posts?

I mean really, what can it hurt?

It certainly won't hurt DSL's reputation. By appearing professional DSL will continue to gain respect in areas that may be ripe to achieve a steady income through development.

It certainly won't hurt yours, you'll simply look like the respectable 'guru' you deserve to be seen as.

It will most certainly trim back some of the negative press the Linux community (at least this one) gets due to public remarks taken the wrong way.

Take some time, and think about it...

Sincerely,
Onikage

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One who overcomes others has strength, while one who overcomes himself is truly mighty.
...back in again, sorry....

You can say that a person *might* have a learning disability, but the chance of that is likely to be much less than 1% of the time.  If you'd ever done tech support before, you'd probably notice that 99.something% of the time these redundant and obvious questions are asked by the lazy and the ignorant.  Get enough of that and there's no way you can be completely nice and patient...you'll at least become slightly sarcastic (as cbagger's original post).  Even you cannot be pleasant all the time, as you've shown quite well...mocking and insulting while pretending to be civil.

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Does not mean that the community as a whole shouldn't help by offering support to the newcomer.
This is precisely what the community does, and it does it pretty damn well.  You seem to have latched onto one single comment in one thread that was never intended for users or newcomers.  Take a look around, and you'll see several users here every day, helping wherever they can...voluntarily.  On rare occasion someone will say something they shouldn't have, directed to another user, but it's very rare. I can't and won't condone such behaviour, but i don't believe it's right to criticize a community because one or more members got agitated.  It's part of being human, and if a person cannot accept that and deal with it, that person may need a good thwacking with a Big Foam Cluebat.

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If this really is that frustrating to people here, then why not ask for a quick forum search?
I'm not sure what you're saying here. There is a forum search link at the top of every page.  There are at the very least 100 threads in which a forum search has been recommended to the person asking an old redundant question.  However, this suggestion is sometimes regarded by the newcomer as being rude itself...so you can't win.
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You can say that a person *might* have a learning disability, but the chance of that is likely to be much less than 1% of the time.


And you know this beacuse you are in possession of medical records for all 6+ Trillion people around the glode? Or even the medical records for all who visit here? ???  

also, who ever said that I don't do tech support? ???

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Even you cannot be pleasant all the time, as you've shown quite well...mocking and insulting while pretending to be civil.


from dictionary.com - based on Merriam-Webster :)

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mock   Audio pronunciation of "mocking'" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (mk)
v. mocked, mock·ing, mocks
v. tr.

  1. To treat with ridicule or contempt; deride.
  2.
        1. To mimic, as in sport or derision. See Synonyms at ridicule.
        2. To imitate; counterfeit.
  3. To frustrate the hopes of; disappoint.


v. intr.

   To express scorn or ridicule; jeer: They mocked at the idea.


n.

  1.
        1. The act of mocking.
        2. Mockery; derision: said it merely in mock.
  2. An object of scorn or derision.
  3. An imitation or a counterfeit.


adj.

   Simulated; false; sham: a mock battle.


adv.

   In an insincere or pretending manner: mock sorrowful.

in·sult   Audio pronunciation of "insulting" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (n-slt)
v. in·sult·ed, in·sult·ing, in·sults
v. tr.

  1.
        1. To treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness. See Synonyms at offend.
        2. To affront or demean: an absurd speech that insulted the intelligence of the audience.
  2. Obsolete. To make an attack on.


v. intr. Archaic

  1. To behave arrogantly.
  2. To give offense; offend: a speech that was intended to insult.


n. (nslt)

  1. An offensive action or remark.
  2.
        1. Medicine. A bodily injury, irritation, or trauma.
        2. Something that causes bodily injury, irritation, or trauma: “the middle of the Bronx, buffeted and poisoned by the worst environmental insults that urban America can dish out” (William K. Stevens).


I do not insult, nor was I imitating (mocking) anyone here... Guru is a compliment!.. see below:

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gu·ru   Audio pronunciation of "guru" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (gr, g-r)
n. pl. gu·rus

  1. Hinduism & Tibetan Buddhism. A personal spiritual teacher.
  2.
        1. A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.
        2. A trusted counselor and adviser; a mentor.
  3.
        1. A recognized leader in a field: the guru of high finance.
        2. An acknowledged and influential advocate, as of a movement or idea: “In a culture that worships slimness, he was the Guru of Lean” (Erica Abeel).


Both you and cbagger are (from what I've seen) highly regarded here on this forum... As LEADERS both of you should try to hold yourselves to higher standard as doing so only helps promote DSL and Linux overall, and NOT doing so only helps ruin DSL's reputation (which in turn hurts John and Roberts hard work)... Even if you do hold some resentment towards those who ask... If you have any respect for John and Roberts work; you wouldn't take the chance of hurting their work's reputation.

Please re-read my above paragraph, because no matter how many ways you try to justify sarcastic comments. The above statement WILL ALWAYS HOLD TRUE!


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This is precisely what the community does, and it does it pretty damn well.  You seem to have latched onto one single comment in one thread that was never intended for users or newcomers.


Again back to an earlier post of mine... Those type of comments, whether to express solidarity or not. Simply do not belong on a public message board for the above reasons.

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It's part of being human, and if a person cannot accept that and deal with it, that person may need a good thwacking with a Big Foam Cluebat.


Would Microsoft take that attitude with a mass of potential customers? (Before you or anyone flame about bad comparisons read on).

Chances are 99.9999999% no.

Microsoft grosses literally Billions in revenue every year.

I don't think that they got there by allowing an off-color remark stand out for public eyes to see, or even ignore users... Perhaps it may have happened on the occasion, but it doesn't happen continually.

Yet on this forum, I have seen quite a few off-color remarks in addition to unanswered posts.

Why is his important to DSL?

Well, maybe just maybe John and Roberts would like to make money with DSL beyond selling pen-drives, CD's and ITX systems.

Reputation goes a long way towards making that happen.

And as I have pointed out... It is easy for the masses to ruin that by not thinking before posting.

This is not about one simple thread. This is about a respected leader on this online community doing something that goes a long way to damage what this online community is all about.

Touche regarding the search link... However, if I missed it and I've been lurking around this forum for quite some time now (Yes even long before I started posting here). Then does it not stand to reason that others may have missed it as well?.. Perhaps a small facelift (such as a higher contrast for that link) could make it pop out for newcomers and save you some posting.

Lastly, for all who wish to pick at the 'troll' some more (which I take troll as a compliment)... Why do you still continue to prove my original point by trying to distract my topic to your own self-justifying topics or self interpretations of word definitions? All you're really accomplishing is proving my comments about rude behavior even more so...

Is trying to make me look like I don't know what I'm talking about so important that you would be willing to continue damaging DSL's reputation?.. Perhaps then, I was right about the 'holier-than-thou, almighty guru' mentality all along...

If so, then keep on. So that my words will stand as an example of what a Linux forum should be :D
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