[ .help ]
If you are experiencing difficulty, harassment or have general error(s) to report about this site please contact us here. DO NOT contact us with questions about your system or what distribution(s) we use, etcetera. These types of questions will be discarded and ignored and your email address will most likely be blacklisted.

To assist you in seeking answers to technical questions we are working on a .forums section. Below we are providing alternative methods for you to seek answers and discuss Linux problems and solutions with others who are interested.

[ Tips asking questions and retaining information ]:

1.) Always look for your own answer first. Showing others you are actively trying to solve your own problem(s) increases the chances someone will be willing to help you out and decreases any irritation you may receive or inadvertently transfer to others.

2.) Keep a logical and accurate history of the troubleshooting efforts you've already attempted and in what order (i.e. don't repeat steps that have proven fruitless). This is more respectful of others time and your own. Showing respect for others time, etc is more likely to get you the help you are looking for. People want to help those who can get along and use common sense.

3.) Be mindful of the help arena you are using to find a solution. Use appropriate forums, channels, websites and other resources to look for answers. Improper use of help resources can be met with irritation and possible banning or blacklisting by others.

4.) The old adage 'you catch more flies with honey' could not be more true on the net. Here you are judged by what you type and by what your reactions are to what is typed to you. Don't accuse, bait or otherwise cause disturbances in help forums; it's you that will be remembered.

5.) Keep a notepad next to your computer to help you remember complex tasks you've completed, or create your own succint text help files. Tests reveal that memory retention is far greater when we combine the physical act of writing with the visual stimulus of seeing what we have written. Periodically review what you've written to refresh your memory.

6.) Finally, when posing a question, your best bet is to paste all pertinent information on pastebin, rafb, or phpfi. Then, give a brief synopsis of your problem in the appropriate channel with a link to your pasted errors and other information. Pay attention to the information your receive, if someone is abusive or unhelpful, simply ignore them. Fighting or arguing with others (even if you believe you're right) will lonly make you look bad and unnecessarily complicate your issue.

Following these simple steps will maximize your chances of receiving help.

[ On the web ]:

http://www.google.com - Need we say more?

http://www.tldp.org - The Linux Documentation Project. Excellent collection of howtos & more.

http://linux.2038bug.com/ - The rute guide, the definitive guide to understanding Linux®

[ Collaborative ]:

http://www.pastebin.com - A collaborative project for debugging code and error output.

http://www.rafb.net/paste - Another collaborative project for debugging code and error output.

http://phpfi.com/ - Yet another collaborative project for debugging code and error output.

[ On IRC (internet relay chat) ]:

Freenode - A great non profit resource for discussing problems, solutions, ideas and interests with FOSS related projects as well as other popular topics. Feel free to offer your support in any way you can to them.

Efnet - One of the oldest IRC networks around. Efnet is useful in many ways, though it generally operates with a different set of guidelines.

[ Usenet / newsgroups ]:


[ Web forums ]:


[ Mailing lists ]:


[ On the web ]:
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[ Collaborative ]:
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[ On IRC ]:
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[ Tools ]: