Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-edu (332 mails)

[Ian <ian.lynch2@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Two of the keys to consulting are to listen to people's needs and to be
> prepared to compromise.  

Another two are credibility with the client and ability to get enough people 
to think you know what you are talking about to make a living.

> Nick Clarke's original email made reasonable
> points and seemed to balance up different considerations in a thoughtful
> way.  

I think there are at least two points in there that lead me to doubt the 
rigour of the depth of thought.  Though probably some of that is a 
communication thing due to the limitations of the medium. Still, nothing like 
a bit of vigorous debate to liven up the weekend :-)

> I didn't agree with a lot of what he wrote, but I think he
> mentioned his 20 years "in the business", not so much to "prove his
> rightness", but to point out that his opinions were the result of
> experience rather than bigotry.

Just shows how much opinion differs because my twenty odd years in the 
business lead to different conclusions. The tone of a post can be pretty 
instrumental in triggering a flame war. Thing is never to take anything said 
on Usenet or a mail list personally. OTOH if you really believe someone's 
opinion is duff why not just say so? 

> We share a lot of common ground on this list, but sometimes you'd never
> guess it from the (personal nature of the) conflagrations.

Better than having a sterile mutual admiration society ;-)

Regards,

-- 
IanL