Re: Why do so many newcomers post to bug-lilypond?

[Laura Conrad]

>>>>> "David" == David Rogers <address@hidden> writes:
    >> How about:
    >> 
    >> The bugs list is for experienced lilypond users to report
    >> malfunctions in the software.  If you're having trouble learning
    >> to use the software, you can get help on the lilypond-user list.
    >> 

    David> The new user's answer to this is, unfortunately, "I'm not having
    David> trouble learning to use it at all - it simply won't run! This is most
    David> certainly a bug!"

    David> Your text, while strictly true and strictly the correct thing to
    David> write, is in fact misleading in this very strange case.

There are going to be other very strange cases where someone says, "I
*am* a programmer, and I *still* can't get this %^&&^&( thing to
work."  

Not to mention the case a ways down the road when our new user has
figured out how to use the program and has found a real bug and feels
that the input isn't wanted because it doesn't come from a
programmer.

Thinking about my draft after sending it, I decided it erred in the
direction of not pointing out strongly how much the people on
lilypond-user want to help the new user.  There should also be a
description of the purpose of lilypond-bug somewhere, but the right
thing for this purpose is to encourage the use of lilypond-user, not
to spread misinformation about bug-lilypond.

-- 
Laura   (mailto:address@hidden http://www.laymusic.org/ )
(617) 661-8097  233 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139   

Inquisitor: What did you do in the Great War?
James Joyce: I wrote Ulysses.

Tom Stoppard, _Travesties_