How Can I Best Utilize UbuntuForums for Support and Learning?

[chrisgayle]

I’m new to UbuntuForums and looking for the best ways to use it for troubleshooting and learning about Ubuntu. What are some tips for finding helpful information, engaging with the community, and making the most out of the resources available here?

[TheFu]

Read existing posts + threads that interest you. Learn new stuff daily. May want to set a timer - 15 minutes - so you don't lose track of time.

When you have a question, first search for answers using more restrictive terms. Relax the specific terms when it makes sense.

Don't hop into someone else's thread and say "me too". Your issue is seldom, if ever, exactly the same as someone else's. All our systems are a little different.

Try to post a few relevant facts with the initial post, but don't post pages and pages of junk that isn't helpful.

Never post entire log files.

Avoid posting images, unless the issue is specific to some GUI issue. And if you must post images, use attachments to images stored in your forum account here. Don't make people go to external image sites.

Posting to the correct subforum is important, but not the end of the world if you get it wrong.

When replying to a post by another user, please include a portion of what they said so we can tell what your reply is answering. "Yes, that's right" when there are 3 posts above isn't useful. Nobody knows which question you are answering.

Don't expect people to read minds. We can't. If we have to guess, there's a 50/50 chance someone will guess wrong and assume things that aren't true with the specific situation.

It doesn't hurt to thank people. Almost everyone wants to help solve the issue. Nobody here works for Canonical. Everyone is volunteering their expertise and time. That's good and bad. There are many levels of knowledge. It will be up to you to decide which to follow. Also, please assume people ARE trying to help even if their empathy sucks. There's a small difference between being blunt to make a point and being mean. Some of us lack good social skills. Sorry.

[him610]

Welcome to the forums chrisgayle,

When I started out in these forums several years ago, my situation was similar to yours today. Just follow along, try to read all of the issues other folks are having along with the suggestions from the resident gurus (who really know what they write about.) Try some the suggested commands from a terminal. If you post a problem with your system, try be succinct in description of your issue and include pertinent information about your system.

You might want check out the link in my signature

[currentshaft]

You guys are responding to a bot. There's no way this crap is passing a Turing test.

[coffeecat]

Whether bot or human, the OP is not a genuine account nor genuine post. Account holder has been shown the door.
Thread closed.