Re: Join the fight against malicious commands given to new users
Originally Posted by
NineseveN
I honestly understand your thoughts here, but do you really think that such a command is suitable for MOST truly new users?
I liken it to the NRA's Eddie Eagle program, where they teach kids to NEVER touch a gun, to stop and go tell an adult. As a person gets older and has the capacity to understand how to handle such a powerful object (or command), or once they're actually taught to be responsible, even at a young age, that advice doesn't necessarily apply to them in the strictest sense. I'm new to Linux, but I would think that if a new user is told not to use the sudo rm command, if someone suggests it, they'll at least pause and not rush off and do it or question it. It's not like they can't change their minds and do it once 4 or 5 more users post replies to their issue/question stating that it's okay in this instance (if it truly is).
I understand your comparison, and I'm not to downplay what you've said, you made an excellent point, but if anything I'm trying to emphasize the responsibility part of what you said. If you tell someone never to run sudo rm -rf, they are still going to blindly cut and paste anything else not related to rm -rf. You haven't taught them anything. If I can borrow your same analogy, thats like saying, NEVER touch a gun, but here's a bunch of shiny knives to play with.
As far as mkfs or rm -rf being suitable. Most people running ubuntu have already used mkfs and don't even realize they have. of course, it was done in a scripted manner. My point though, is that they are vital system commands, and I think that they become suitable the minute someone asks about them. Its not up to me to decide whats suitable for a new user to do with their system, maybe they bought a new hard drive, maybe they are cleaning off an old one that used to have XP on it.. However, as an experienced user, it is up to me to help a new user understand what they are asking for.
Last edited by toupeiro; November 21st, 2007 at 08:37 PM.
"Its easy to come up with new ideas, the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will soon be out of date." -Roger von Oech
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