Can we get a "NEWBIE" section

[whell]

If it is any consolation... I have been here since 2006 and words like "kernel" scare me

I'm sorta with you on this one. I just want to drive the car. Having to open the hood periodically - for someone at my skill level with neither the time nor inclination to become even a novice mechanic - makes it equally likely that I'll either fix the problem or make it worse.

[Eadwine Rose]

Exactly that.. when I am driving and I hear a clunk, that is ok, I can fix the clunk. However when it suddenly becomes a clank.. HEEEEEELP!

Usually the solution is stupidly simple.. but yeah.

Just yesterday I got a reply to a question I asked on my mobility scooter. I said something like yeah this is likely a stupid question but I can't find the answer anywhere.

"The only stupid question is the question not asked."

[JayM]

Exactly that.. when I am driving and I hear a clunk, that is ok, I can fix the clunk. However when it suddenly becomes a clank.. HEEEEEELP!

I call those "expensive noises."

[AK-47]

I am completely against the idea of a newbies section. The more "perpetual newbies" we have, the less likely we are to get people to learn things, and learn from experience, because "lol im just a n00b."

One thing I do notice though is the subforums appear as small links that aren't immediately obvious, so people won't always see them. People often post Linux help questions in the Rules and Forum How-Tos boards which doesn't seem to have any relevance to these boards.

How about we use the existing boards to our advantage instead of creating a newbies board so people can high-five each other for never going beyond their comfort zone. We already have enough boards including help boards, I see nothing wrong with them.

If it is any consolation... I have been here since 2006 and words like "kernel" scare me

I'd be more worried about the corporal or sergeant.

[chrispop99]

"Newbie" is such a ninny word.
How about using the term "Greenhorn"?
Greenhorn has a much richer pedigree, www.nytimes.com/1991/06/23/magazine/on- ... nhorn.html and just sounds way cooler.

Just a thought,

Infodude, a recent MX greenhorn loving persistence on a USB stick.

Newbie is fairly universally understood across the world, whereas greenhorn is pretty much unknown outside on North America.

Chris

[Eadwine Rose]

If it is any consolation... I have been here since 2006 and words like "kernel" scare me

I'd be more worried about the corporal or sergeant.

Mind, I am with you, we have enough forums where people can post, no need to add more.

[skidoo]

howabout: regardless of subforum, encourage self-selected use of a designated topic icon to serve as a signal

[KBD]

Perhaps a work-around might be to include 'Newbie' in the title of any query?

I've been here a while, but still consider myself at the earliest stages of learning, so would be more inclined to look at a query that I might be able to answer, in a way that someone at my level might understand.

Chris

This is the answer.
OP is correct that we can assume knowledge that is not there, especially as many here are 'old timers'. But prefacing a question with "Newbie Question" should make a difference.
And we are all still learning, even 'old timers', some discussions here still make my head spin :)

[ChrisUK]

howabout: regardless of subforum, encourage self-selected use of a designated topic icon to serve as a signal

Which would be great for users experienced enough to know which was the correct icon to select... I bet a few novices would select a totally unrelated icon

[rasat]

I am in favour with a "newbie" corner, its easy to maintain. Previous newbie threads in different forums can be moved there, giving space to "old timer" discussion. Its not only for "newbies" but also for old timers of other distros. What they usual do, check what's easiest to browse. Its nice to post there when still getting familiar with MX forums and language/jargon style.