A little late, but here you go

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Deleted member 151145

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I was so involved with trying to get a problem solved, I kind of neglected to do this. My bad. LOL!

First, some personal info. I was asked "how up there?" by wizardfromoz so I'll begin there. In February I'll turn 65. I sat down in front of my first computer in 1976 while a member of the US Army. Those were the days of the monster mainframes. I was a computer operator and programmer on IBM mainframes and spent time on pretty much every model of the 360 and 370 families of them. We used FORTRAN and COBOL in those days. I later went on to system 36 systems and then on to mid range computers like the AS/400 series. Along the line I started playing with personal computers. My very first was one that was built on a small piece of plywood. That was a Radio Shack deal. Then it was on to 8088, 286, 386, etc, etc, etc, PCs. Towards the end of my career I spent a lot of time working in the computer and network security arena. I got all those really nifty certifications that really did nothing for me, other than to be able to say I did it. I got really into DOS and even got into Batch files and Power Batch files. You can't really call that programming, but I could sure make a PC do a lot of things with a simple batch file.

That's enough of my computing history, but it kind of explains why I never got into learning the inner workings of Linux and the Linux command line. By the time I decide to get into Linux, I was near burn out on computing in general. I think it was in 2000 that I installed Linux on my own PC and left Windows behind. I've run nothing but Linux on my own computer since that day. About 15 years ago I switched the wife's computer to Linux. She was a bookkeeper before retiring and she would come home everyday and really complain about her Windows PC at work. She'd tell me horror stories about how many times her PC locked up on her, requiring a hard reboot. A lot of those times she'd lose a certain amount of the work she had entered and it really ticked her off.

I'm in Southeastern Illinois. I no longer will even consider working on a computer that belongs to someone else. They all have Windows PCs and I won't touch one. I have, however, converted quite a few people to Linux over the years. Towards the end of my computer career, I decided to open a small engine repair shop to allow me to decompress after a day of staring into a computer screen. It was a great way to relax. My wife finally retired two months ago and it took all of about one month for me to figure out that I needed to find a way to separate us for at least a few hours a day. I am in the process of opening a new small engine repair biz out of the garage. I'm not looking to try and make a living off of the biz. I just want to keep busy and keep harmony in my marriage. I've been buying old, non-running push mowers, which I'll refurb and resell. The one thing I regret is selling off all my specialty tools used in the small engine biz. I'm having to buy all that stuff all over again and it costs a LOT more than it did 10 to 12 years ago.

So, that's a kind of lengthy personal introduction. If anybody has any questions, just ask. Oh, crap. I guess I should include some info on my computers and OS. I'm down to only four laptops running in the house and all of them run Mint XFCE 20.3 right now. I won;t buy a brand new computer. I always built my own desktops and then I'd buy 2 to 3 year old laptops off eBay and load them with some Linux distro. I still do that. All four of these Lenovo laptops were purchased on eBay. I paid about a fourth of what they cost new and other than adding some memory, a newer wireless adapter, and a couple of new 1 TB SSD drives, they are pretty much the way I bought them. All four were being sold because the previous owners thought they needed a new laptop because Windows was running like crap and it just HAD TO BE the computer, not the OS. LOL!
 


Welcome to the forums, young'en
from another 70+ member
 
Welcome to Linux.org.

I turn 65 in just a few days, though I've been retired for quite a while. I didn't add a wife to the mix until fairly recently, and then I went with a much newer model! :D
 
Thanks, guys. Hopefully I won't run into the same problem I had on the last Linux forum I was a member of. I was told that I was an idiot on that forum. I don't think so, but others may differ. LOL! It seems I'm not alone in being "up there" in age. Good to know I'm not the only one suffering though these "supposed" golden years. LOL! I know I'd trade it all in for another chance at being 25. ;)
 
I was told that I was an idiot on that forum.

We don't tolerate that kind of behavior.

I generally go for a light touch with moderation, but there are clear lines in the sand and calling you an idiot would be frowned upon.

We strive to be reasonably polite with even the most... What's the word I'm looking for? Even with the most 'difficult' of users.
 
We don't tolerate that kind of behavior.

I generally go for a light touch with moderation, but there are clear lines in the sand and calling you an idiot would be frowned upon.

We strive to be reasonably polite with even the most... What's the word I'm looking for? Even with the most 'difficult' of users.

Well, that's the way I have always been. If I can offer help, I will. If I can't, I just stay out of the conversation. And I would NEVER tell a person what he is trying to do is stupid or call him an idiot for trying it. I might suggest an alternative to what he is attempting, but if he says he wants THAT SPECIFIC PROGRAM, then I try to help him get it going.

If I ever cross that line, do NOT hesitate to tell me. I'm fairly thick skinned, but I do draw the line when someone calls me stupid and an idiot. Just makes sense to me, anyway. LOL!
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We will legit help you shoot yourself in the foot. We will suggest you not do so, but we'll show you how to load the gun and make sure you're pointing it properly!

Maybe... Usually...
 
What's the word I'm looking for?

"Challenged" works for me. :) I have eight (8) mental health disorders, and they made me an Administrator, go figure.

I spent three years at another forum, notched up 2,799 posts, had about 20 Friends, had an inbox (120 allowance) about 90% of which were thank you's, and then they banned me, with about 2 hours notice to clean out my locker. A few weeks later I came here (1 May 2017), hung my hat here and the rest is history.

I hope you will find us the same way. :)

Yours is one of the best introductions I have read in a while. Hope we'll see you around the forums.

Chris
 
How strange - I got married for first time at the age of 60 in 2010 then sold my last two motorcycles. Added Linux :) when WinVista when extended support ended on April 11, 2017.
Bit silly being a 61 year old SuperMoto hooligan :cool: but enjoyed every second on the CCM R30 Rotax SuperMoto which I converted to fuel injection so became the only Rotax CCM R30i.. :cool: but never managed to fit and test the fully dynamic aerofoils - :(
Along with tilting trikes and cars in 1997 - I got called Stupid most days till it was tested in late 1999 and patented in 2005 by that iconoc US tractor, sorry, motorcycle company. I have been in pre ND discussions with the design gods at Ducati-Audi. :cool: Multi Million dollar contact in China was won off the back of one of my stupid designs for the Rail NDT Industry in a global contest. Not bad for a one man show...!

I can testify to being held in ridicule and called stupid for advocating LXDE and other super efficient setups. Have been called silly and stupid here on this forum for same but being thick skinned I answer back ;) which is allowed by our moderators and super moderators for which I am most grateful :)
Wife became a Linux user out of necessity during Covid for internet banking etc. She hardly complains when I switch distros as she knows everything she needs is available in the bottom left menu icon or the Ffox and Files icons on the launcher.

Ooooooooops - forgot to say - Welcome LoneWolf

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This is Lightweight too at 130Kg but transforms you into a hooligan...:eek::cool:
 
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We will legit help you shoot yourself in the foot. We will suggest you not do so, but we'll show you how to load the gun and make sure you're pointing it properly!

Maybe... Usually...

Now, THAT is funny. I have to agree, but it's still funny! LOL!
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Wow, seeing the rest of your ages, being 35 doesn't seem that old anymore. No offense! :eek:
 
"Challenged" works for me. :) I have eight (8) mental health disorders, and they made me an Administrator, go figure.

I spent three years at another forum, notched up 2,799 posts, had about 20 Friends, had an inbox (120 allowance) about 90% of which were thank you's, and then they banned me, with about 2 hours notice to clean out my locker. A few weeks later I came here (1 May 2017), hung my hat here and the rest is history.

I hope you will find us the same way. :)

Yours is one of the best introductions I have read in a while. Hope we'll see you around the forums.

Chris

I still can't believe the crap that was thrown at me over on that other forum. I couldn't believe 4 or 5 guys went so far out of their way to post about how stupid I was for running that program on my computer. Then they told me only an idiot would run it. They all said it would absolutely Bork a system. Well, I've been using it for ten years and never Borked the first one.

But, that's water under the bridge now. I look forward to helping anybody I can. You all can expect to get a few questions from me on occasion.
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:)... Welcome...:)
 
Wow, seeing the rest of your ages, being 35 doesn't seem that old anymore.

We're PG13 just 'cause of you kids on the site! :D

At just 64, for a few more days, I'm a young'un too - as compared to many. But, I was exposed to computers REALLY early in life 'cause of my circumstances. We had a few dumb terminals and a connection to Dartmouth back in the early 70s. I didn't use it much, but I do recall having to learn the basics. We also had in-room computers which I needed to use for calc and physics courses.
 
I decided to open a small engine repair shop
I've been buying old, non-running push mowers, which I'll refurb and resell
I have repaired/refurbished/rebuilt small engines since 1967. Lawn mowers, brushcutters, chainsaws, stationary engines, ride ons.... etc ETC

I stopped in 2017 dues to shitty family circumstances, but in the last couple of years have reestablished a home workshop of sorts....fairly basic,,,,,but enough to repair local peoples mowers etc.....and I find it is an excellent venue for a chat !

65 ?...thats not old !

I have also encountered some of the hostility 'over there' .....bunch of would be if they could be's. Worthy of just one thing...waving at them in the rear view mirror.

Welcome to this place. The members here will embrace you.
 
Welcome to the Forum.
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I might know that Forum and others like it.
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It's very brave to hide behind a keyboard.

I've been using computers since 2001 but only started enjoying them when I switched to Linux with the exception of Mint 21.1 only because of a few Bugs.
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It's very brave to hide behind a keyboard.
Behind a keyboard or cell phone FO is in my vocabulary and I can even spell it correctly. :p

Yeah lol, i'm only 33.
It'll happen to you to. :p

Wow, seeing the rest of your ages, being 35 doesn't seem that old anymore. No offense! :eek:
I liked being in my 30s good times.
Good to know I'm not the only one suffering though these "supposed" golden years. LOL! I know I'd trade it all in for another chance at being 25. ;)
The golden years was when we were kids and teenagers and then in our 20s now were just a butch of old farts :p but that's okay.
 

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