Re: Providing pointers to more generic help

[John Sullivan]

"James Youngman" <address@hidden> writes:

> The logical thing to do is put a single web page somewhere on
> www.gnu.org and include in that page things that help users find
> resources to help them.   I've made an outline of such a document
> below.   It would likely be an enhancement to the document currently
> at <http://www.gnu.org/help/gethelp.html>.
>
> What do you think?   If you think this is a good idea but think the
> outline could be better, please et me know.

Seems like a good idea to me, as an enhancement to gethelp.html.

We get *a lot* of requests for technical assistance with specific
programs sent to address@hidden/address@hidden, so it would also help all of
those people if we had a better page to point them to.

> <H3>Support-related Benefits of Free Software</H3>
>   <!-- How the three freedoms help people to help you. -->

Four :)

>   <H4>The Linux Documentation Project</H4>

I don't think we can point to this from gnu.org due to the naming
issues. Along the same lines, though, pointing to
http://flossmanuals.net might be good.

> <H3>Mailing Lists and Newsgroups</H3>
>  <H4>How to Find the Right Mailing List<H4>
>     <!-- Point to the GNU mailman instance.
>          Also GMANE and other similar mailing list archives.  -->     

Another helpful thing could be to point toward the Free Software
Directory -- people can find mailing list and other useful support info
on the entry page for the program they are using.

 > <H4>Meeting People Who Can Help</H4>
 > <!-- LUGs etc.  Do we call them GNU/LUGs? :) -->

There are free software groups and GLUGs, linked to from
/links/links.html.

Maybe it would also be useful to mention the idea of seeing if anyone
has had the problem before by searching bug/issue trackers and mailing
list archives?

-- 
John Sullivan
Manager of Operations
GPG Key: AE8600B6