Re: [PATCH v7] MyFirstContribution: add avenues for getting help

> On Thu, Feb 06, 2020 at 08:33:54AM -0800, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> > SZEDER Gábor <szeder.dev@gmail.com> writes:
> > 
> > > On Fri, Jan 24, 2020 at 03:44:40PM -0800, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> > >
> > >> ...  The more important part, from my point of view,
> > >> is that we offer choices (the proposed doc update illustrates
> > >> three).
> > >
> > > I remember a discussion about whether that list and its archive should
> > > be open or closed, and I agree that offering choices is good.
> > > However, since that mentoring list requires registration, we have to
> > > carefully consider how to present it to newcomers.
> > >
> > > Openly accessible knowledge is a fundamental value, and it's the
> > > foundation of open source.  Therefore, we definitely should not direct
> > > newcomers to a closed mailing list as the first option, it can only be
> > > a fallback.
> > 
> > I am not that dogmatic ;-) I would be very unhappy and probably
> > would not have joined if the main development community was closed,
> > but I do not think the "knowledge" the "closed mentoring list for
> > those who are shy" are meant to impart to newbies will be something
> > that will be so well kept secret that are shared among only those in
> > the closed list.  I expect the mentoring list to be repeating what
> > those who graduated "new"-ness consider pretty much common public
> > knowledge.
> > 
> > Having said that, my reading did hiccup when queuing Emily's text,
> > in that it listed the mentoring list first, and (more problematic)
> > the only choice among the three described with a word "great" was
> > that one.  Also, now I re-read it, the last sentence "You must join
> > the group to view messages or post", without explaining why it is
> > set up that way is bound to give a wrong impression, I suppose.  I
> > presume that the reason why those who wanted to make the mentoring
> > list closed was because they thought it would be nicer for shysters,
> > but if that is the case, it probably is better to spell that out.
> 
> Sure. I think I didn't do so in an effort to be brief. I'll think on
> this today and send some suggestions here (rather than rerolling).
> 
> > 
> > > The text should list git@vger as the first option, since that's the
> > > only open mailing list we have, it should clearly emphasize that
> > > newcomers are very welcome, and should explicitly encourage them to
> > > post their questions here, no matter how trivial or silly they think
> > > those questions are, we'll be always glad to answer them.
> > 
> > I have no problem with seeing an expanded invitation to the main
> > list.  I do not have a strong opinion on the order of three items.
> 
> Me neither, and placing git@vger first does give me an opportunity to
> say something like "if you feel worried about asking publicly, this list
> is a more private setting" in reference to the mentors list. So that's
> an option I could get behind.