We want Answers

Q Dear Editor, I would like to support Richard Farr’s letter plea (printed in LXF231) for the return of the Answers section.

I’ve been a subscriber to LinuxFormat for nearly five years and have found the Answers section to often be one of the most useful sections for me. Linux users comprise a wide bunch with many interests and I found the Answers section to be a great way of seeing how readers are using Linux. As a novice user I don’t know what I don’t know and this section was a gold mine of projects and tips. I was dismayed by its removal and if I had not just renewed by subscription, I would have reconsidered whether I wished to renew.

As to why there hasn’t been an out cry? Maybe because readers didn’t think it would make any difference (sorry)? Andrew Smith, Dunedin, New Zealand A No. Absolutely not. Over the zombie processes left behind by my dead body. I mean, who around here even has time to answer your questions? Can’t you just Google it? Or post on /r/linuxquestions? I’ve heard you’ll get a snarky answer in near real-time there.

Oh we’ve read your letters, pleading for that section’s return. They far outnumbered the number of actual Linux questions we ever received. But what sort of example would it set if we rolled over on this one? What would be next? Drag Dr Brown kicking and screaming out of retirement? Bring back the podcast? Or mandatory xorg.conf files? It’s a slippery slope my friend. Mark my words, there is no way Answers is ever coming back. Oh, wait…