So I am an absolute believer in and fan of PerlMonks.org. The problem I am running into is that I don't know what I can do to help! I'm not good enough at coding to offer legitimate solutions (unless you want your code and resources doubled+...), I don't understand regex or programming well enough to obfuscate in a fun way, I'm not clever enough for the 'fun uses', etc. What can I do to help the community out?
-Alan
Re: How to help?
by Anonymous Monk on Nov 05, 2011 at 06:29 UTC
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Here are some thoughts on helping the community, you should read them all, you'll get a better idea of the kinds of things you could do
I like to guide the lost towards posting new question in SOPW, instead of replies to ancient threads by long gone monks
I also like to try to get ask-ers to ask effective questions
It entails a lot of copy/paste (links), like form-letters
- Short, Self Contained, Correct Example
- How do I post a question effectively?
- How do I compose an effective node title?
- How do I change/delete my post?
- The Perl Monks Guide to the Monastery
- Where should I post X?
- EffectivnessDetective
- on necromancy (reviving old threads)
- http://WhatHaveYouTried.com/
I also like to quote/adapt solutions from the perl faq, esp when I can do it off the top of my head (the more I practice/adapt solutions from the FAQ, the better I am at writing them)
- Bobby Tables: A guide to preventing SQL injection
- perlfaq
- Tutorials
- Modern Perl: the free book
- You should read these too
- Virtues of Community
- Reciprocating to the perl community
- What's the secret of this community?
- Why does PerlMonks work?
- The PerlMonks algorithm
- Giving back to the community
- The Community is Greater...
- Would you rewrite perl community?
- And these
- Choosing modules - community matters or just technical merits?
- Larry Wall Talks Perl, Culture, and Community
- How to ask a question in the Perl community, and where to ask it
- What's bugging Andy Lester?
- And the future
- Getting Involved with Perl 6 - 2009
- How I came to contribute to Perl 6
- Get Involved - Help making Perl 6
Occasionally I will even be a bastard, when I think it will be helpful, but I try to avoid Dealing with Internet Trolls, even using the the Cognitive Therapy Approach
- http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/on-being-a-bastard/
So, you can help posters with formatting, effective title, effective question...
You can learn, and teach, the FAQ (you improve)
You can learn, and teach, the Tutorials (you improve)
You can help with perl 6 (improval optional)
You can be a bastard
:D
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Nice reply, great links! I've bookmarked the post. Thank you :)
“Occasionally I will even be a bastard, when I think it will be helpful, but I try to avoid Dealing with Internet Trolls, even using the the Cognitive Therapy Approach
http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/on-being-a-bastard/”
However, I'm not certain how informative or overall helpful including notes on dealing with problematic posters is in this context. I also disagree with the approach prescribed since (AFAIK) while cognitive behavioral therapy can succeed when practiced by well trained professionals, I'm not aware of it's effectiveness when practiced by an online community. Even in an ideal scenario where members had training and could agree on methods, this does not address the effects such an effort (ie: time spent away from the site's purpose) has on the rest of the community.
I appreciate the intent to help an individual who may be suffering from mental/social issues but I think we should leave practicing therapy to the therapists. Discretely directing an individual to resources could help but it assumes the person —wants— to follow through with getting better.
As for some of the arguments against certain methods pointed out in the link you provided (punishment, ignoring etc.) some teachers may not completely agree:
"...the adversities born of well-placed thoughts should be considered mercies rather than misfortunes." — Don Quixote
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Re: How to help?
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Nov 05, 2011 at 11:10 UTC
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Keep coming up with interesting puzzles like your first one! :)
And regularly expend a little of your time scanning over the questions (and answers!) from other monks. And don't be afraid to ask for explanations of stuff you don't understand. Whether it is a part of answers to your questions, or those of others.
You'll be amazed how much you'll pick up along the way.
As your Perl knowledge grows, you'll start seeing questions from other newbies to which you know the answer. So post them.
In this way, you continue your learning process and start giving back by helping others with their journey.
With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
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Re: How to help?
by choroba (Cardinal) on Nov 05, 2011 at 04:03 UTC
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You can start with asking good questions. As you learn gradually from the answers, you can become able to answer questions as well. | [reply] |
Re: How to help?
by luis.roca (Deacon) on Nov 05, 2011 at 05:16 UTC
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Hello,
This is a good learning community you should spend time digging through. Learn about what has made this site great (a lot, see Selected Best Nodes). There are a number of good teachers and students who are pretty friendly. If someone posts a question you've been thinking about or an answer that taught you something new - thank them with a reply or message. People volunteer their time and years of experience so it's good to let them know how much it's appreciated.
Have fun exploring the site.
"...the adversities born of well-placed thoughts should be considered mercies rather than misfortunes." — Don Quixote
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Re: How to help?
by JavaFan (Canon) on Nov 06, 2011 at 12:49 UTC
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So I am an absolute believer in and fan of PerlMonks.org. The problem I am running into is that I don't know what I can do to help!
I'd thought that absolute believer think that PerlMonks is already perfect; and if it's absolutely perfect, it doesn't have problems it needs help solving. ;-)
But since you want to "help", you must believe PerlMonks not to be perfect. You're a heretic! You should burn on the cross while being drowned! ;-)
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You assume that to believe in something like perlmonks, that something necessarily is perfect, like an omnipotent omniscient omnipresent deity? Perhaps a bad example, but do you believe in democracy? By definition, those who believe would have to participate and *help* the system along, else the system collapses :)
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