Re: [gNewSense-users] Website skin updated

[Sam Geeraerts]

auto generate schreef:
> help.  I haven't actually offered to help, but I am now.  I want to
> help.  I can write clearly and logically.  I'm a non-technical person.
> I would like to help add some explanations where a non-technical person
> might need them.  I thought that I might need to work with a technical
> person closely in doing this, because he/she would have to explain
> things to me.  I am willing to learn how to do technical things that
> will allow me to do this kind of work without using the technical
> person's time 100% of the time.  For example, learning how to edit the
> Wiki, although I don't know anything I would do there.  I generally want
> to help, but don't have any specific ideas.  I know it's been difficult
> for me because programming is not my thing.  Maybe there's nothing I can
> do. Maybe I need guidance (duh).

Being able to write clearly and logically is a valuable skill. It's not 
one of my strong points, which is why I don't do much work on 
documenation in the wiki.

Learning how to edit the wiki is not hard. In fact, the whole purpose of 
wikis is to make editing easy. Read the formatting rules [1] and 
experiment as much as you want in the sandbox [2]. You'll be amazed at 
how quickly you can pick it up, even without technical skills.

Once you get the hang of it you can start with small maintenance tasks 
(I'm sure there are still lots of spelling/grammar mistakes all over the 
place). If you feel more confident you make the documentation more 
accessible by getting the structure into some sane shape.

You don't always have to understand all the words on a page to know how 
it should find into the whole. And if there are things that you feel do 
require more technical knowledge, just ask about it on the mailing list. 
That would bring it to the attention of people who would otherwise not 
have seen it or would not have cared as much about it to do something 
about it. It could also make people think "hey, I know the answer to 
that, I can help" and so would go from regular user to active contributor.

So don't dissmiss your own capabilities that easily. Anyone can help. If 
you don't know how to get started, ask for help. If you haven't gotten 
an answer after a while (or one that satisfied you), ask again, but be 
more specific (about skills, interests, things you think could use more 
help, ...) or ask on a different communication channel. Don't take on 
too much at once, but don't be afraid to make mistakes either. If people 
point out your mistakes, don't take it personally, but think about their 
criticism.

I'm starting to sound like that Baz Luhrmann record, so I'll just stop here.

[1] http://wiki.gnewsense.org/PmWiki/TextFormattingRules
[2] http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/WikiSandbox