Very Computer

A lot of people have been comlaining about high traffic in
comp.os.linux.help. I have a suggestion. How about a comp.os.linux.faq
group? It would be a moderated group, and not postable. The only
articles in it would be all Linux FAQs and HOWTOs, as well as the FAQs
from comp.windows.x and any other relevant groups. With this group in
place, new Linux users who do not know of the zillions of FAQ's
available at sunsite and tsx would be easily able to find the relevant
document and not flood c.o.l.help with their oft-answered questions.

Yes this would be a duplication of effort, as all of these faq's are
already at ftp sites and in the other c.o.l groups. But since the faq on
a particular topic can sometimes be hard to find, this would simplify
finding answers for those who don't know the faq's exist or don't know
where to find them.

: A lot of people have been comlaining about high traffic in
: comp.os.linux.help. I have a suggestion. How about a comp.os.linux.faq
: group? It would be a moderated group, and not postable. The only
: articles in it would be all Linux FAQs and HOWTOs, as well as the FAQs

        As you say, it would indeed be a duplication of effort and net
bandwidth. The Linux FAQ's and HOWTO's are posted regularly to
comp.os.linux.announce, and I'm sure the INFO-SHEET has pointers to
other FAQ's and groups.

        I really am against turning the c.o.l newsgroups into a general
un*x area. New Linux users really *MUST* learn that for most things
Linux = Un*x.

        Kenny.
--
================================================================
Kenneth MacDonald, Deptartment of Geology & Geophysics,
The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Tel +44 31 650 5917
WWW - "http://www.glg.ed.ac.uk/kenny"

I'm not opposed to posting FAQs from other (quasi-relevant) newsgroups
in c.o.l.announce, if other people think it would be beneficial (like
some people, I hate having to browse news.answers or FTP to rtfm.mit.edu
to find an FAQ. What a pain.)

: : A lot of people have been comlaining about high traffic in
: : comp.os.linux.help. I have a suggestion. How about a comp.os.linux.faq
: : group? It would be a moderated group, and not postable. The only
: : articles in it would be all Linux FAQs and HOWTOs, as well as the FAQs
Nice - I just had the same idea today. Must be a good thing (tm).

:       As you say, it would indeed be a duplication of effort and net
: bandwidth. The Linux FAQ's and HOWTO's are posted regularly to
: comp.os.linux.announce, and I'm sure the INFO-SHEET has pointers to
: other FAQ's and groups.

I don't think so. If comp.os.linux.faq existed, the faqs could be removed
from c.o.l.a.  Additionally it seems faqs in c.o.l.a are not posted
often enough, at least the faqs that direct new users to the appropriate
places. IMHO it would reduce traffic in the other linux groups significantly
if newbies would find documentation that moment they start their news reader
and enter the comp.os.linux hierarchy. c.o.l.faq would virtually SHOUT:
"Here is documentation", provided that the important stuff is posted weekly.

:       I really am against turning the c.o.l newsgroups into a general
: un*x area. New Linux users really *MUST* learn that for most things
: Linux = Un*x.

That's true, but at least there must be documentation where to find
something. And this documentation must be available all the time. Using
ftp or waiting till a faq is posted isn't good enough, people will always
post stupid questions instead of reading the faq as long as posting stupid
questions is easier than reading the faq.

I definiteley second the suggestion for comp.os.linux.faq

Froh
--
Frohwalt Egerer   Drausnickstr. 36   91052 Erlangen   Germany      ///   Use


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