Blog - /Quotes
First, some context. This was part of a backlash on the debian-emacsen mailing list against the newly-crippled (that is, with GFDL parts and GNU Manifesto removed) Debian package for emacs21.
David Kastrup writes:
Jérôme Marant writes:
Newbies don't use Emacs because it's not for them.
Of course, this is complete nonsense. Everybody who ever uses Emacs passes through a newbie phase.
These days, I wouldn't encourage people to try Emacs. It's not nonsense, it's my opinion. You don't share it. Fair enough.
— Jérôme Marant, a maintainer of the Debian emacs21 package [original quote]
And now, the response.
... Emacs is much more than a program and the act of maiming is indicative and symbolic for the the Debian Project. Emacs is the first component that was developed for the GNU system. Saying that Emacs is usable only for experienced users is like saying that GNU/Linux is only for experienced users. Saying that people can use Emacs without the manual is like saying that a guitar without strings is still a musical instrument — it is, e.g. you can use it as a drum, but it's not a guitar.
— Yavor Doganov [original quote]
I find it rather astonishing that one of the emacs21 maintainers for Debian does not recommend its use by newbies. I am constantly doing just that at PLUG meetings! Example: My Notes: Plug Emacs Basics.
![[FSF Associate Member]](http://mwolson.org/static/logos/fsf-member.png)
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Posted by Bruce at Wed Nov 1 19:39:32 2006
What I still love about emacs is that I read notes for n00bs like you produced and I still learn something new I can do with emacs.I think emacs is for everyone. I think this is a great example of how emacs and new users can get along. The advantage with emacs though is that you can still do more and more with it as you go along. I can't think of many other programs that go from new users to gurus.
Posted by Michael Olson at Wed Nov 1 20:44:57 2006
Interesting stuff. Thanks for the link!Add a comment