Maximizing Help

1.] Always look for your own answer(s) first. Showing others you are actively trying to solve your own problem(s) increases the chances someone will be willing to help you out and decreases any irritation you may receive or inadvertently transfer to others. Never ask to ask a question. It is redundant and generally frowned upon. Just ask your question.

2.] Keep a logical and accurate history of the troubleshooting efforts you've already attempted and in what order (i.e. don't repeat steps that have proven fruitless). This is more respectful of others time and your own. Showing respect for others time and effort is more likely to get you the help you are looking for. People want to help those who can get along with others and use common sense. Remember, people are donating their time. money and other resources to help you.

3.] Be mindful of the help arena you are using to find a solution. Use appropriate forums, channels, websites and other resources to look for answers. Improper use of help resources can be met with irritation and possible banning or blacklisting by others. Don't ask off topic questions or disrupt the normal operation of your help resources. Also, be observant of information given to you, people don't like to repeat themselves when you can just as easily scroll up and re-read what was typed to you. Also, do not use  "leet talk" such as "1d107" or  heavily abbreviated  words such as "hlp plz" or similar forms of "communication". This does not help you and will most likely turn off any potential help you might otherwise receive.

4.] The old adage 'you catch more flies with honey' could not be more true on the net. Here you are judged by what you type and by what your reactions are to what is typed to you. Don't accuse, bait or otherwise cause disturbances in help forums; it's you that will be remembered negatively.

5.] Keep a notepad next to your computer or open a text editor: 1. To help you remember complex tasks you've completed. 2. For keeping detailed troubleshooting records 3. To create your own succinct text help files. Memory retention is far greater when we combine the physical act of writing with the visual stimulus of seeing what we have written; i.e. Self-Programming. Periodically, review what you've written to refresh your memory. Use what you've learned to help others with the same problems. Helping others helps you remember as well, help pass knowledge on.

7.] Finally, when posing a question, your best bet is to paste all pertinent information on rafb, pastebin, or phpfi. Then, give a brief synopsis of your problem in the appropriate channel with a link to your pasted errors and other information. Pay attention to the information your receive, if someone is abusive or unhelpful, simply ignore them and do not respond at all. Fighting or arguing with others (even if you believe you're right) will only make you look bad and unnecessarily complicate your issue. This is the internet, let it go.

Remember, it's not how much you know but knowing how to find what you need to know that matters...

Now, ask yourself "How can I help the open source community?"

1.] Donate time, money, energy, or other resources to a FOSS project of your choice. There are numerous ways to contribute, the only limit is your imagination. Help free others who are truly seeking to free themselves of outdated modes of thought and help make /home better for everyone.

2.] Give sound, proven advice that is agreed upon by the majority. This sets a good example while also providing stability and reliability to the solution. If everyone is using the same proven solution that works, there is less chance of it not working for someone and less chance for other confusion. Try to refrain from advising "fringe" or custom solutions. Do so only when it is apparent to everyone there is no other recourse. If someone has a good idea, let them speak so everyone learns something new.

3.] Finally, refrain from "distro wars" or who has the best program or Desktop Environment. These are tired arguments and have been beaten to death. It really defeats the whole purpose of helping others. One of the many beauties of Linux is it's versatility. Give others the freedom to choose what fits them best. Keep in mind however, if you veer too far off the standard path experimenting, less people may be likely or willing to help you. Remember to have fun.