...that this place usually has about 30-40 people looking at it at once, with the record being 96, yet virtually noone is registered and posting and only a handful of new topics/replies are posted every few days?

Kinda like shopping for cars. Don't let the salesperson know who you are and don't post til you feel comfortable.

For us guys, it's like not admitting that you need directions to your destination. I think that people really learn a lot by crusing the forms and seeing if any problem matches what they experienced.

Umm.. what do you mean? ? )

Not that I am asking of cource.

Danleff is right. I just started visiting this site
a few days ago and have found answers to a lot of
questions just by cruising the forums.Kinda like
FAQs. I would like to encourage all visitors to join
and post thier questions and remarks.
"questions only sound stupid to stupid people."

Although there are stupid answers, there's no such thing as a stupid question.

right? )

Maybe we've already answered all the questions, and they're just coming here to read them...

Seriously, I think what danleff said is pretty much on the mark. Also, I think we get a lot of new Linux users, and many of them, are afraid to ask a question for fear of someone ridiculing them or jumping down their throat. Most of us know from experience that it's not an unfounded fear.
I remember when I first started trying to learn Linux and had no one to help me. Reading the man pages at Mandrake was like trying to understand Martian, (French Martian at that!). When I finally got the nerve to post my first question, I got a few snide comments and condescending answers, but there were also those that took time to empathize and understand my lack of knowledge and tried to help me. I'll always be thankful to those seasoned users who didn't forget what it was like when they were in my shoes. Once, I posted a question wanting to know how to become root. Man, did I get flamed for that one!

..Yeah. D rolleyes
Umm.. what ever do you mean?

my neighbour

Asks for some help to correct something and he'll say .. that is what you did the last time to get it to work.. and after deleting them it didn't work again. so that is no good.

ARGH x )

No he really does that.. atleast once a month, he decides that he will delete files that he thinks are no good or that he hasn't used for anything.
Perhaps I should throw him into linux.. atleast then I could prevent him from seeing anything that requires root access.

But that is different from the forums and having someone ask. (most times) ) I kina expect the question was asked because they want an answer. I suppose their ability would suggest how through the response is. And there is alot out there for those looking. Helps when you know where to look, or who to ask though.

But most of us were trained by Windows NOT to google and look for answers, except to ask Microsoft, or the guy we bought the computer from. . When I used Windows, I searched with Yahoo!. Now, I spend probably half my time on the computer Googling, looking for answers to my and other people's questions. New Linux users must also learn how to search for answers on the net in addition to trying to learn Linux.

Yeah, I think it is right. Some people are here trying to not only see what questions are being asked, but also what replies are answered (and how polite the replies are). I don't know how newbies of today think of Linux, but when I first tried to find out about Linux there were few if any forums on the web. I had to look at Usenet news groups, and many of the Linux users I tried to ask were kind of like snobs. At first I spent a month or two looking and asking - it wasn't until I found the words words and phrases that the users used all the time. When I used these words or phrases in a question the users thought I was knowledgable enough, and so I got some answers. Now it is easier, but I'm sure many newbie are not sure about the 'regular' users... 8)