[aclug-L] Re: Freelance Technical Support

[ironrose <ironrose@xxxxxxx>]

What I mean is that if you read the litature that came with the product 
and it makes no sense at all or the person feels overwhelmed.  Some 
people who use computers feel that way and don't know where else to go. 
 Wonder why the dummies and idiot books sell so well, the info is broken 
down into simpler explanations that are in plain english.  Man pages are 
not so easy to understand.  They usually end up calling a family member 
or contact someone like you.

Sometimes the literature that comes with the hardware, ie motherboard is 
incorrect and something doesn't work.  Checking with the product's 
website I found that the driver on the CD-ROM didn't work and found the 
correct driver for the onboard NIC, downloaded it, copied it to a 
floppy, moved the floppy to the other computer, and installed it.  That 
was easy for me and would be fore you, but some people feel that 
procedures like that are not so easy.  They get overwhelmed, so they 
just give up and walk away angry.  If anyone could do this type of work, 
you and most of us would be out of a job.  Oh yeah--I am out of a job, 
but I am still looking.  ~Anne

Jonathan Hall wrote:

>>I agree--it is hard to find out what manuals or books are the best
>>sources of knowledge to start reading.  That is why I object to the
>>RTFM, some people are too lost, have too much to do, and so little time
>>    
>>
>
>Object to RTFM?  That's a pretty silly thing to say.
>
>Not knowing what book to read and objecting to RTFM are *VERY* different
>things.
>
>When someone says "RTFM" they _generally_ mean, read the manual that came
>with the application you're experiencing problems with.  For instance... the
>GIMP manual, or the manual for your modem.
>
>There are specific situations where whitch FM to R is not obvious.  "How do
>I set up a network?" for example, doesn't have a single definative FM to
>answer the question.  If you're using Linux the NET HOWTO is generally a
>good starting point... but there are still broad questions that doesn't
>answer.
>
>IMO, saying "I object to RTFM" sounds very lazy.  I know it may not mean
>that to you... but, especially where Linux is concerned, someone not willing
>to do the legwork of RTFMing probably shouldn't be using Linux.  Maybe in
>5-10 years you won't need to RTFM to use Linux effectively, but right now
>you do.
>
>Even with Windows, someone not willing to RTFM probably shouldn't be using
>their computer.  Unless, of course, they're willing to pay someone else to
>do the FMing for them.  Which comes back to our original discussion.
>
>Either put up (with RTFMing) or put out (the cash for me to do it for you).
>
>-- Jonathan
>
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