Non-Geeky Girls Love Linux Too - English

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Non-Geeky Girls Love Linux Too :

I never expected to become such a Linux fangirl, especially because I'm not technically minded at all. I'm a teenage girl, into dance and cheer and gymnastics, not computers. Not until a few days ago that is.

I have read several articles on multiple forums about "getting women and girls into Linux," with several suggestions (mostly from guys, by the way) on how to do it. I want to tell my story because I think it may offer something new to the discussion.

I discovered Linux by accident. There is this very cute boy in my dance school who uses a laptop to teach a beginner's class. I borrowed his laptop for a few minutes between classes. I surfed the web a little, checked my e-mail, listened to some music, and did a little school work. When I returned his laptop, I commented on how fast and easy it was. That's when he told me it was Linux!

What??? Robin is not a geeky boy at all - but he uses Linux?! And oh my gosh, I had unknowingly used Linux effortlessly to do all the things I ordinarily do in Vista. I was amazed.

Not long after that, when Vista updated, I got more security warnings, expired license warnings, and a few little things stopped working. I decided to ask that cute boy about Linux, and he lit up, trying to hide his enthusiasm. He introduced me to Linux and I became an almost instant fangirl.

Now how does my story help in "recruiting" more women and girls into Linux? Here's how:

First, I might never have "converted" if I had felt no need to leave Windows. Just don't "recruit" people to change what they don't need to change! If it ain't broke, people are not willing to turn their whole operating system on its head just to gain some unknown advantage.

Secondly, the "geek mystique" that surrounds Linux can't be dispelled easily. Don't try. Just let her borrow your computer for something, and for goodness sakes, don't scare her away by "warning" her that it might be unfamiliar and for goodnessakes, don't say it's Linux! After she has successfully done what she needed the computer for, then tell her, if you must. Her own experience will go farther than your words or any article you could point her to.

If you are a tinkerer and your wife/girlfriend/daughter sees you constantly "fixing" your computer, she may infer that you are "fixing" it because it's broken! That doesn't look good for Linux at all. Sure, you're only customizing it and tweaking it because you can. But most Windows users are not aware that you can customize an OS to such an amazing degree. She won't understand.

Thirdly, to her, the computer is just a tool. Not unlike a car or a toaster. She doesn't feel the need to learn how the car works and how to diagnose and repair every little thing, she just wants to turn the key and go (shopping!). How it works doesn't matter as long as it does. "Linux for girls" should be the same way. It doesn't have to be super-simple. But it does have to be dependable, reliable, and useful.

Linux is ready for the desktop - but the Linux community may not be ready for desktop USER. Here's what I mean: In my first few days using Linux, I ran across this arrogant sentiment in a couple of "help" forums: "Learn the command line or go back to Windows, little girl." Just because I'm a little girl doesn't mean I can't look for a simpler way to accomplish a task I'm not likely to repeat very often (like installing software). In fact, the command line is an awesome secret weapon that I never would have attempted in Vista! But let her discover that on her own if she's a newbie, by suggesting only when it is the simplest and easiet option. There are plenty of occasions when the CLI is alot simpler than browsing through directories to find a file and edit it, for example. She feels dumb enough as it is asking technical questions, without the condescending (or downright disrespectful) attitude. Remember, to her it's just a tool! She wants the fastest way to get it running again. She wants to run her applications, not her operating system!

You don't have to be a gorgeous hunk of sweet awesomeness like the beautiful boy who brought me to Linux (but it helps!).Just be good at whatever it is ordinarily do as you interact with women and girls in the workplace, the classroom, and even the playground.

Kalau membaca ini sering ingat kejadian masa lalu,, waktu bertanya dibilangin : RTFM..!!!,, Baca-baca..!!! di cari dulu baru nanya :))

Sumber : http://www.linuxforums.org