If I have several small problems, like warnings or errors, that all seem likely to have arisen from one initial issue or mistake, should they still be separated into different posts in the Support category?
To my mind.
If they are related.
Then; Separating them would lead to the solution being only on one post/thread, making a mess of the Support categoy and also making it more difficult for others to find.
If they aren’t related.
Then; Combining them in one post/thread would lead to that thread becoming messing, and the moderators needing to do more work to tidy it up, and again making it more difficult for others to find.
Another way to word this might be.
What should I do with small issues that I think are symptoms of a single problem, but am not sure actually are?
The other question that occurs to me here is. Am I overthinking things again? (Sorry, I don’t get out and talk to people very much)
Regarding your main question, just post one question to begin with (esp if it is something that is not working) and in there you can specify the other issues and mention you think they may be related. Someone with better understanding of the issue will either confirm that they are indeed related or say they are not and may ask you to raise separate topic for them. It is as simple as that.
I think yes. Relax. Folks here are way cooler than you may think. You may see some heated posts in Coffee break section occasionally but that is all in good spirit. You will surely grow to like the distro and the people here, as I have.
After spending 20 years in IT Support, I can honestly say that every issue is a moving target. The most important thing that most people don’t think about when it comes to solving any problem, is to determine if the problem is the cause or a symptom. That’s not always obvious until more investigation is conducted. I find that being as open about the process and considering all possibilities is the best way to determine if it’s the former or the latter. Here is how I typically solve problems:
Start with the easy things first. Is it plugged in? Is there paper in the printer? Are the lights on? Is it making noise, and is the noise correct? You would be surprised how often things are resolved in this section of the process.
Avoid immediately skipping to the end. Everyone wants their problems to be solved quickly, but that isn’t always possible. It’s going to take as long as it takes. Patience is a virtue.
Take a deep breath. Many people get emotional and tend to take it out on those that genuinely want to help because they ask too many questions and don’t produce enough results. Problem solving is a stressful process for everyone, not just the one experiencing the problem.
Know your limits, and make the people helping you aware of them. This is an opportunity for teamwork to really happen. By that, I mean everyone can honestly start the learning and support process. Inflated egos do not solve problems.
Finally, make a bulleted list of everything you have tried already. This lets the people helping you know what they can exclude right away so other avenues can be explored.
As for Category and Post maintenance, the search function of the forum should be more than adequate. I would encourage you to do the advanced tutorial when the forum bot messages you. We have some labels than can further categorize things, but the best thing to do is to follow the process in the template and the thread that explains what the expectations are to get better help when posting. After all that, just make the post and we can see where it ends up.
Relax. Folks here are way cooler than you may think. You may see some heated posts in Coffee break section occasionally but that is all in good spirit. You will surely grow to like the distro and the people here, as I have.