Ubuntu Touch Q&A 110 Saturday 9th October At 19:00 UTC
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Sometimes we need to answer the hard questions that make us uncomfortable. Today was just one of those days. It's something that's been coming to a head over the past year. Only now was I able to put it into words.
The Q&A thread is a veritable minefield for me. I don't like reading about all of the things that people are excited for us to do, and knowing that the only thing I can do is disappoint them. I brace myself for impact long before the show begins: it's common for me to say "we could really use some help with that." The response to that answer is usually "easy for you to say, Dalton. You're a developer."
I've had some really long conversations with people who told me that I should stop using "if you want it, you have to do it yourself" as a default response. I really don't know what else to do though. It doesn't mean the question is bad... I might want the thing someone is asking for more than whatever I'm going to work on this week. But I also have obligations to a lot of stakeholders.
It's a frustrating effect to me. It's this thought that a higher-powered developer is going to find a way to make everyone's dreams come true. The higher power just needs to be reminded of its obligations. But that's not the case. I am a developer, but the majority of my responsibilities require speaking fluent English, not fluent C++. I can gather people around a central idea and get them all to work together toward it. I don't think that's unique to me, even within this community.
Maybe there's something wrong with my approach. I don't want people to stop asking about what's going on with their favorite upcoming feature. Sometimes I can say something really targeted and useful like, "if we had someone test that on the Volla Phone, we might be able to merge it." But I also don't like the idea that I'm just disappointing people every other week.
There is something a bit deeper than that, though. Something that a simple "just stop caring whether you're disappointing people, you can only do so much in a 2-week period" can solve... It's hard to put that underlying thing into words.
What do y'all think I should do?
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@moem You're right
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@unisuperbox If you ask me what you do, I think you should start feeling proud. Look at what you have done until now. It's amazing! Who could in the world think that your team and you have forged with all these years. And it's very usable.
I understand that you may have been feel stressed for trying to keep up with a goal that only with discipline and dedication can be possible. Just look at your desk and count how many devices all of you have just changed to be a completely different thing.
I understand that many people have different skills, and they would like to know how to help. You have even provided with some tips, so don't worry about it, we'll figure it out.
And you people, not only deserve a hug from us, but also our support. I thank you UT guys for keeping the flame alive. Duopoly sucks, we agree. And you have started with a great step something that for many of us we couldn't even imagine.
Keep all the great work that you have done, and feel proud, and laugh a little bit during the Q&A, a joke or two aren't harmful. I know that you guys may find a balance between remaining professional and have fun.
Remember that dreams can only be possible if they are organized as goals.
Just remember what Confucius said:
我們最偉大的榮耀並不從未跌倒，但每次我們跌倒時都在崛起。
. . .
Of course that I was about to put the translation, here it goes:
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -
@unisuperbox I sympathise with your dilemma of having insufficient resources, both personnel and financial, to do the work required. Given that you are not getting the help you need, perhaps it is time to restrict the goals you have set yourselves to a more limited range which are achievable. If that means saying no to some requests, so be it. There is no shame in being realistic about what can be done, and to my mind would be a more honest response than adding yet another task to an ever growing list of things to be considered at some indeterminate time in the future.
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@thousandtopics said in Ubuntu Touch Q&A 110 Saturday 9th October At 19:00 UTC:
Look at what you have done until now. It's amazing!
I agree, it really is!
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It might help to realise that the only reason why we will always be disappointed is because we really like the stuff all y'all do. We like it so much that we want more, more than there can possibly be, and so we'll always be disappointed. At the same time, we will always be happy and satisfied with what is already there because it really is a lot, and it's good stuff, and it's amazing that it's even there!
But 'I'm such a happy UT user' does not a good Q&A question make. It's not even a question. So what you hear about are the things that are lacking or imperfect. It's the nature of the whole thing and it's not a sign of anything bad. It means that we care about this project.
Imagine if no one had any questions or requests. That would be a very bad sign.
I think that it's really good to let people know that help is needed and that there are many, many ways to help.
It's also good to let people know that helping will often mean: show some initiative, don't make the team spend two hours on explaining stuff so they can get one hour of help. Figure some things out for yourself. -
@moem said in Ubuntu Touch Q&A 110 Saturday 9th October At 19:00 UTC:
But 'I'm such a happy UT user' does not a good Q&A question make.
That may be, this is a good place starting to express it though
I'm such a happy UT user
Critics are the true Positives | OnePlus 3T, Lumia 950
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@3t_ed Very happy Ut user too (but I don't tell the family exactlyhow many I have). I agree this probably does not get said enough. For all the odd issues and problems along the way UT is still here, still progressing and improving. A big thank you for the time and work put into this glourious little project.
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And a big thank you to the manufacturers actively seeking for collaboration with our community and sponsoring the UBports effort. By doing so it makes me realize my next UT phone should be one of theirs as being part of our family, not a random phone that happens to be ported.
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@unisuperbox said in Ubuntu Touch Q&A 110 Saturday 9th October At 19:00 UTC:
I've had some really long conversations with people who told me that I should stop using "if you want it, you have to do it yourself" as a default response. I really don't know what else to do though. It doesn't mean the question is bad... I might want the thing someone is asking for more than whatever I'm going to work on this week. But I also have obligations to a lot of stakeholders.
Well, as someone who asked a question that triggered this, I apologize. This is really not what i was looking to achieve, and i guess i should have known better then to ask a question around something this obvious.
@unisuperbox said in Ubuntu Touch Q&A 110 Saturday 9th October At 19:00 UTC:
There is something a bit deeper than that, though. Something that a simple "just stop caring whether you're disappointing people, you can only do so much in a 2-week period" can solve... It's hard to put that underlying thing into words.
Please don't feel bad about your response! It's the truth as you see it, even when it is hard to say. In life, there's no way to please everyone (and definately not the entire internet). Focus on what you think you want and can achieve. Just say no to things that aren't. You may need to politely explain this every two weeks for a while though ...
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I'll answer locally to this problem and more broadly.
Locally to Q&A question threads, thank you all for your kind words. I agree that if the question thread was full of "I am really happy with Ubuntu Touch" then the show would be fairly boring. I generally cut such a statement out of the question in the interest of brevity anyway. If we didn't have questions the show would be pretty boring as well.
I do want to see people trying to ask questions and discuss in the community rather than going straight to the top, as it were. Especially when my answer will probably be "that sounds neat, someone should do it
". But likewise, I don't expect everyone to know what my answer will be to a question, because then they wouldn't need to ask the question!Maybe my perfect world sees a question thread full of "I want to make this thing happen, how should I do it?" I can dream
More generally, I think the problem of having too much to do has been deeply ingrained in my head now. So much so that I'm afraid to accept that there might be even more to do. I agree that the solution is to reduce scope of the project or add more resources. I would much prefer the latter, but I'm still trying to prepare people for the former. This will continue to shake out over time. I'm just really happy that there are people out there who can see the same problems we see, sympathize with them, and offer targeted feedback when the time comes.
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@unisuperbox
Hi Dalton,If you don't know about this, you should check it out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_DoneIt felt natural for me but I just learned about it.
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@3t_ed I am such a happy UT user, too.
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@unisuperbox Thank you to the entire team for all you do for this great project - thank you!
While watching you at the show, I could literally feel the burden you carry. I've felt that way before, but this time it was really clear to see and yes, to hear from you as well.
We normal users are greedy little animals, like children who always want more because it is so great what we are offered here, that's true.
But if we are reminded of that - and you rightly do from time to time - then we are also empathetic adults who know about the burden of your responsibility.
I want you to know that I am well aware of the weight of your responsibilities.
I probably feel as helpless as you do, because I can't do anything except a little communication and testing and some modest donations. But of course I know the situation, where everything becomes too much from my professional contexts as well. I think if you allow yourself that, the joy might come back. I hope it very much for you - and for all of us here. Good luck! -
@unisuperbox Much love and strength Dalton! Make sure you take enough time to go outside and look at the flowers!
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@unisuperbox said in Ubuntu Touch Q&A 110 Saturday 9th October At 19:00 UTC:
the problem of having too much to do [...] reduce scope
If this is how it is, so be it. We're not running away.
One low hanging fruit that I have been think about often: Why does it have to be a biweekly show? I think monthly could work just as well
