Social Problems in Computer Science • Hacker News Board

Re: Social Problems in Computer Science

#21

Post by sukuriant » Mon, Aug 30, 2010, 12:16 AM UTC

ShardPhoenix wrote: post #19

endlessvoid94 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that Person A didn't know that he could use PXE to solve his problem ILLUSTRATES that he doesn't know what PXE is. He shouldn't need to take step 2 and ask "What's PXE?" because it's OBVIOUS. You don't need to be a mindreader.

I think how easy it would be to follow up with "what's PXE?" would be completely dependent on Person A's perception of Person B's attitude. If Person B seemed like a jerk, they'd be a lot less likely to ask.

Does anyone else find it somewhat funny that the presently highest post on this topic called the article's example bs, and then we've been discussing that very topic ever sense then?

Is it just me, or are we ourselves a case-study of exactly what she was making a point about in her article?

Just an observation.

Re: Social Problems in Computer Science

#22

Post by Estragon » Mon, Aug 30, 2010, 12:20 AM UTC

Towle_ wrote: post #6

"Person A: I need to reinstall this computer with Debian, but I don’t have a CD or DVD burner or any flash media. I’m not sure if I have any other options. Could you help me? Person B: I don’t have time. Just use PXE." The author is contriving a bullshit situation to make her point. If Person A is unwilling to ask what PXE is for fear of looking stupid, then they sure as shit aren't going to explicitly ask for help.…

Context is important, here. The author is the chairman of SIPB, a group of students at MIT who spend part of their time helping anyone who happens by the SIPB office with computer problems. A low level of computer knowledge on the part of the questioner is the correct default assumption in her context.

Re: Social Problems in Computer Science

#23

Post by coryrc » Mon, Aug 30, 2010, 12:54 AM UTC

ahoyhere wrote: post #8

r0xst4r wrote: post #5

A blog on social etiquette and politeness would go a long way, I know I have trouble communication with green engineers. HOW-TO: Being polite? HOW-TO: Say no without being an ass

There are bazillions of books on social skills, but the target audience (in this case) don't read them. The only assumption one can make is that they don't care to learn.

Not only are the "tech" people being asked to help, they're being asked to help in only the way the questioner wants. Why doesn't the questioner (the person asking the favor of the others) read a book on how to interact with people with poor social skills?

This is a more constructive approach because it is easier to change yourself than to change others.

Re: Social Problems in Computer Science

#24

Post by kroger » Mon, Aug 30, 2010, 3:24 AM UTC

You know, I hate elitist and pretentious people as much as the next person, and I do believe in trying our best to help others. But in this particular case it's not difficult to google for "install debian with pxe". The second result on google [1] says "If your client machine's BIOS supports it, you can then boot the Debian installation system from the network (using PXE and TFTP), and proceed with installing the rest of Debian from the network."

Are you still not sure what those things mean or what to do? How about going to #debian at freenode and asking questions? Maybe the guy in the story was an elitist, so what? This is 2010, there are other ways to ask for help (I know, I know, IRC is sooo 1990's ;-) Hell, these days we can even search for movies and watch people solving the problem! Or, alternatively, how about forgetting about messing with BIOS and borrowing a flash media from someone?

We are not talking about Aunt Tillie [2] here, we're talking about a MIT student. He or she doesn't need to know everything, but I think it's important to know how to find information and to solve problems without too much hand-holding. (although sometimes a session in person can be very helpful and one can learn things that are difficult to learn just by reading).

[1] http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst

[2] http://catb.org/jargon/html/A/Aunt-Tillie.html

Re: Social Problems in Computer Science

#25

Post by endlessvoid94 » Mon, Aug 30, 2010, 4:36 PM UTC

sukuriant wrote: post #21

ShardPhoenix wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think how easy it would be to follow up with "what's PXE?" would be completely dependent on Person A's perception of Person B's attitude. If Person B seemed like a jerk, they'd be a lot less likely to ask.

Does anyone else find it somewhat funny that the presently highest post on this topic called the article's example bs, and then we've been discussing that very topic ever sense then? Is it just me, or are we ourselves a case-study of exactly what she was making a point about in her article? Just an observation.

We're not really a case study of that situation. There isn't one person who's clueless asking another person who's very knowledgeable.

We're all knowledgeable, trying to clarify our experiences and make them fit with what other people have experienced.