I'd like to propose that @admins and/or @moderators compose and pin forum-wide message on asking questions. Hopefully, that may help forum participants to get most from the forum and may benefit Ubuntu Mate users looking for community support. Proposed draft for such a message content follows. See also Guide on posting
Who answers questions
Questions are answered by regular Ubuntu Mate users who managed to build their competence through years of using Ubuntu Mate and mastered their Internet search capabilities. They may volunteer to answer questions and help requests if they find them relevant and/or interesting. Ubuntu, Debian, Linux, Mate and applications developers are generally found elsewhere.
Topic subject
Provided that
- Ubuntu Mate is a flavour of Ubuntu featuring Mate desktop environment
- Ubuntu is based on Debian
- Debian is a GNU/Linux distribution
users' questions pertaining essentially to Ubuntu Mate can actually be Ubuntu, Debian or Linux questions. Such the questions well may be answered. At the same time, questions directly related to upstream Ubuntu distribution, Debian, GNU/Linux in general or specific applications are discouraged due to the fact that this is Ubuntu Mate specific forum. Such the questions are better asked at relevant forums/communities. Grievances on Ubuntu Mate (Debian, Linux) are not welcome.
Topic title
Topic title has to be possibly specific rather than general. E.g. topic title "Software problem" is too vague and is unlikely to urge a desire to read a message and help.
Before creating a topic
Well formed topic title, aka concise problem description, is an excellent Internet search request. That is not a secret that a great majority of support/help requests in Linux world are resolved through Internet search rather than personal competence. Do not hesitate a second to perform Internet search before creating a topic. You see, an impression that someone posts a question with the sole purpose that somebody else performs Internet search for someone's sake may be quite annoying.
Topic itself
The topic body must include
- Ubuntu Mate version
- Hardware details for hardware-related problems
- Concise and relevant description of a problem
Please note, that problems, except for hardware ones, almost never occur by themselves. As a rule, user does something before a problem manifestation. That is why it is desirable to address preconditions to a problem as well. E.g. system update, configuration changes, etc.
Communications
Please, be responsive and report additional information requested in the course of discussion of the topic as well as results of suggested actions.
Avoid granularity
Each substantial question deserves its own topic. Do not ask extra questions within the same topic if they do not relate to the main topic subject.