Zachary Uram wrote:
quoted text
> As a long time Linux user I will soon try out OpenBSD, I have been
> reading the list emails and contacted 1 OpenBSD top person who was
> very rude.

"Hi there, I haven't even tried your OS yet, but I have some
questions.  Please drop everything and answer me!".

Coordinating work with developers?  Unimportant.
Arranging a hack-a-thon?  who cares.
Talking to a manufacturer about licensing code and getting docs?  trivial.
Writing code?  done that!
Figuring out how to keep the electric bill paid?  outta my way.
"Drop everything and help me!"?  That's important.  Yup.
Failure to do that on demand?  Rude.

(I remember my first e-mail from Theo.  Three words: "you are insane".
 Well over a decade later, I'm STILL not sure if it was a complement
or an insult -- the phrase gets used both ways -- but the accuracy was
never in question (it was in response to something about explosives
and pointy objects and computer components))

quoted text
> There is some of the "RTFM" or "get lost" attitude in
> Linux, but if a questioner seems sincere there is usually a certain
> level of friendliness in Linux community towards them.

That is, in large part, the difference between a religious
organization who believes YOU SHOULD BE A MEMBER and will do anything
they can to save your soul and convert you -- and a group of people
who have work to do, and are willing to TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY
SCHEDULE to share some of their knowledge in their tools of choice in
accomplishing that work with people who are willing to pull their own
weight.

Your soul is your business.
How I spend my time is mine.

quoted text
> Just what I
> have briefly observed the OpenBSD community is more abrupt and less
> interested in helping newbies, 

you are confusing new users eager to pull their own weight and learn
with those who want others to do their work.  Those aren't "newbies",
those are "lazies".

quoted text
> they prefer one find the answer solely on their own if possible.

I think this sums it up very nicely.  I think 'e's got it!

If it isn't possible, that indicates a deficiency in documentation
which should be fixed.  If it is possible, why the hell did someone
spend a lot of time writing Fine Manuals when you won't Read Them?

quoted text
> I must say I detect a certain attitude that
> smacks of superiority and even condescension at times. Is this a fair
> assessment of 6the OpenBSD culture?

If expecting you to pull your own weight is superiority and
condescension, I'll take that as high praise.

You really want to use an operating system developed by mediocre
coders and used by mediocre people?  Really?  Why?  Are you typically
asking advice of those who you consider your intellectual and
experience equals?  What's the point?  When you ask people advice, be
prepared for them to tell you you are wrong in your approach.  If they
are always agreeing with you, you haven't learned a thing, and you are
probably asking the wrong people.

Nick.
(speaking of electric bills...have you bought your 4.7 CD set yet?)