Re: Q&A FAQ URL - add to "Getting Help" page

[Grant Bowman]

* Alfred M. Szmidt <address@hidden> [020510 16:16]:
> * Grant Bowman writes:
> > Insulting?  You don't think RMS has strong opinions?  I was reading the
> > document specifically from an RMS viewpoint, that's all.
> 
> I found the name calling quite insulting.  RMS might have strong
> opinions, we all do, but I do not see how this makes that FAQ the least
> relevant to the Hurd.

Aren't we discussing this via the web-hurd mail list?

Aren't the web pages describing the Hurd for many kinds of people who
might just wander in, perhaps after a google search?  I'm thinking these
would primarily be users rather than developers.  At least that seems to
be the target judging from the content and tone of the current pages
that are available.

> > Regarding resources, I am simply stating a fact.  The Hurd lacks
> > resources overall.  Otherwise it might have be finished sooner.
> 
> The Hurd will never become finished.  A finished project is a dead
> project.

Excuse me, I apologize, I was imprecise.  I intended to say release a
GNU/Hurd 1.0 version.

> > Regarding a worse quality -document-, do you think you can write
> > something better than what ESR wrote?  I surely would not take the time
> > to do so.  You are negatively extrapolating from what I said.
>
> Yes, I could write something better than what ESR wrote, but why
> should I when I do not see a need for such an document? If people are
> that stupid than no document will help anyway.

Then to paraphrase what you are saying, you can write a document of the
quality ESR wrote or better but you won't.  Neither will I.  That was
exactly my point.  So to provide the best quality representation to a
user audience we should provide the link I recommended.

Perhaps you want to provide a disclaimer and put the link in an
inconspicuous place.

I don't think that writing off the learning ability of all users less
knowledgable than (for example) you is sensible.  Many users can provide
valuable feedback and testing resources that might not otherwise be
available.  Helping educate users to a level that they can provide
valid substantial input into the development process helps everyone
involved.

If what you mean is that the Hurd is still in development and that we
need micro-kernel, OSkit/Linux 2.2 driver and Hurd server hackers, where
do you think these resources will come from?  Good developers are often
working on other projects.  Educating advanced users and inexperienced
programmers seems like a good strategy to me.

Now let's look at the amount of effort you and I have expended by
arguing this point and even those reading it.  How much more productive
could you and I be if we used this time to make project contributions?

> > I can't control what you read into it, but that was not intended at
> > all.
> 
> I can only read what you wrote. I apologise if this was not what you
> wanted to convey.

We are talking about the conveying of meaning.  This involves not only
what I wrote but also the writer and the reader.  Same thing applies to
web pages.  Misinterpretation and preconception can effect any portion
of this conveyance.  It seems to me it certainly has in this case.

> Anyway, this is quite off topic, if you want to continue this please
> remove web-hurd from the CC list.

To quote something I read posted by a Hurd developer somewhere "group
reply is your friend."  

-- 
-- Grant Bowman                                <address@hidden>