unity-design team mailing list archive

[Jo-Erlend Schinstad <joerlend.schinstad@xxxxxxxxx>]

Den 14. april 2012 17:42, skrev Pedro Bessa:
> Ubuntu is far more open to external suggestions than the others.

Think I'll chime in on that one. The behaviour you describe, has been 
very common in the software world in general. For instance, in many IRC 
channels for open projects, it's been common to discourage new users 
from participating. If you've asked questions that are obvious to the 
more experienced users, you've been told to "rtfm", be named as a 
"n00b", etc.

This is very destructive for many reasons. The most obvious problem is 
that you're reducing the number of potential contributors by 
discouraging them from participating. The less obvious problem is that 
as we become more experienced, our minds are more limited by our own 
expectations. You know things are easy because you do it all the time, 
and you forget that they once weren't easy at all. The question should 
always be "is it easy for a new user to do this?" But that question 
cannot be answered properly without allowing new users to participate. 
When we know something is impossible, we don't waste time trying. But as 
the situation changes, the impossible becomes possible. You just need 
some fresh perspectives to remind you of that.

Ubuntu has always been very good at this, and the Ubuntu Code of Conduct 
is a big part of that. If you haven't read it, you should: 
https://launchpad.net/codeofconduct/1.1

Anyone who behaves properly, and makes an effort should always be welcome.

--
Jo-Erlend Schinstad