this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Cheers to that. Being welcoming and forgiving with new users or just ones who don't know yet how to state their problem better, is a must. Assholes, like those elitists you spoke of, are not only unique to the Linux bubble, but are a sickness spread through all kinds of volunteer-based software related streams. I mean, just take a look at stackoverflow or forums and github pages of some open-source projects.
I can understand if someone is annoyed by insufficiently detailed problem threads, if they see that very often, but don't take that out on the user, because that would be the best way to deter people from using that project. And also because it's super unhelpful and inconsiderate.
That doesn't mean serving someone everything on a silver plate and not expecting anything from the user. It's okay to expect more involvement of the user to solve their own problem. However, do it in a nice way. Some mere hints, even if someone is not at the capacity to completely help, can go a long way.
As you nicely put it, every user and voluntary contributor is an ambassador of the project.
Indeed, the phenomena of people being assholes to newbs isn't limited to Linux. Heck, I even witnessed this in a lot more places other than you've mentioned (like language learning). There is just this fact that people don't start out with enough knowledge to get the help they need. We need to be aware of this fact.
What makes this really problematic in Linux circles is how Linux is "a minority of a minority." Being a computer nerd is relatively rare enough, and being a computer nerd who is into Linux is even more rare. This makes the knowledge of the mores and culture of Linux circles even more scarce.
If you ask me, one good way to alleviate this is to "adopt a noob". That is, someone helps a new Linux user along, not only helping them in the installation, configuration, and maintenance of their system, but also how to interact online with other Linux users, and more importantly, how to get and use the debug data one would need to resolve their problems on their own, or ask for more expert help if necessary—or even to make a bug report or feature request if all else fails. All of this in the hopes that this new Linux user grow into someone who can pay things forward. That way, not only can users get the help they need, but also give the contributors the information they need to improve things (assuming more people make good bug reports and feature requests).
But if we're going by Linux user stereotypes...
Seriously though, I've seen this happen in real life, having been a member of a Linux users group in university. That group didn't go as far as teach members how to retrieve and use system debug data though, let alone how to ask for help online, but simply being part of a group of people who help each other with the inevitable challenges of using a Linux computer system is oftentimes enough to encourage someone to keep at it.
TBH, if it weren't for that group, I might have stayed a Windows user, with my Linux experience being negatively colored by schoolwork and struggling with
vi😅