Thoughts on legacy...

[Christian Pearce]

Sorry Eric.  I was in a bit of a mood when I wrote this.  I have been dealing with customers all day.  I do think some of what I said still rings true.

--
Christian Pearce
http://www.commnav.com



"Christian Pearce" said:
> 
> Eric Rostetter said:
> 
> > Several of us non-leaders tried to step forward to help.  We were told a line
> > of gibberish about using such and such IRC, such and such wiki, etc.  But I
> > don't use IRC.  I don't know what wiki is or how to use it.  I was being
> > asked to do stuff, without directions, that I didn't know how to do, and
> > didn't know why I needed to do them.  So nothing happened....
> 
> I didn't use IRC either, but the fact of the matter is I needed to use this in order to be helpful for the projects sake.  I learned.  I believe a good deal of projects get done this way.  It is a virtual meeting room.
> 
> When you are asked to do something, it is because something needs to get done.  When there is lack of direction that means there is a lack of leadership and decisions need to be made.  So make them.  If some one voices there opinion differently let them do the work then.  I think working on these projects doesn't mean having someone spell it out for you.  If they did that they might as well do it themselves.  I don't mean to sound critical on this, but I think this is just the way it goes.
> 
> > This happened on several projects I tried to get into.  So, I did nothing
> > but lurk...  Sad.  I could contribute, but am being blocked from doing so
> > because no one will take the time to help me get up to speed on the
> > infrastructure the aledged "leaders" want to impose on the community.
> 
> Take the time to learn it yourself.  Or jump on IRC and start asking questions.  Everyone was very helpful in getting me up to speed.  I have a lot of packaging experience and I am knowledgable in many things.  But I wasn't use to all the GPG key signing, and wasn't familiar with all the fedora policy we adopted.  So I just asked.  Hashing out newbies on the list can be quite noisy.
> 
> Getting up to speed is part of the process.  I don't know who is "aledging" to be a leader, but there are certainly people among us doing work and making decisions, that puts them in a leadership role whether they wanted it or realzed it or not.  I don't think anyone is imposing anything other than trying to solve the problem the best way they (we) know how.
> 
> > I'll be updateing the Fedora Legacy web site just as soon as I get a chance.
> > Unfortunately lately I've been too busy dealing with issues of my wife's
> > health (along with my work responsibilities) to help as much as I would like
> > to.  Strangely, it turned out in the end I could help with the web site
> > without learning about IRC, wiki, and all that other new-aged stuff...
> 
> IRC is older than dirt.  Wiki's are nothing new or difficult to understand.
> 
> I am sorry this isn't easier for you, but I feel I was in the same position as you were and I was interested it working on this project.  Therfore I spent time reading and learning so I could be come an active particpant.
> 
> --
> Christian Pearce
> http://www.commnav.com
> 
> 
> --
> fedora-legacy-list mailing list
> fedora-legacy-list at redhat.com
> http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-legacy-list
>