We learn by doing

Many articles try to tackle how best to learn Linux. We thought we'd take a stab at answering this.

There are "phases" in learning Linux and the approaches to learning change over the course of a persons time spent using Linux.

It is most common to see 'new' users to Linux get frustrated with trying to find info to help them. They will not really know 'how' to search yet, and it's easy to just pop a question into a forum or IRC channel.

As people learn and gain experience, they will have suffered the taunts and 're-directions' to search and read what is already provided in a wiki or forum section.

When most people start to use or install a Linux distro, they usually are just 'playing' with it. they are taking their time, being cautious.

There are others however, who have built up a lot of steam and excitement and may have done rash things in this state of excitement. Now they are in a tough place. Something isn't going they way they expected and they have no alternative. instead of just using a live cd for awhile, or going with a dual boot scenario, they went ahead and blew out the hard drive and here they are, with no usable computer and they panic.

They get frustrated quickly and the longer they go without fixing the situation, the more demanding and unhappy they get.

The best way to learn Linux, regardless of distro, is to be calm, be patient, be polite, join a community forum, but most of all, use it.

Being persistent builds familiarity, builds confidence and builds trust in the community. As you participate in the community, your continued presence and discussion of your experiences will be seen by the other members and instead of seeing one a just or still a brash newcomer, they will know you have been working diligently and will offer help more readily.

Reading what is already there is also a big help, not only will you learn something to solve your current problem, you might see something that also addresses another issue you hadn't thought of yet. It also gives you a better position to present your case from because you know have have reference points to add to yuor question when you ask or post it.

Overall though, use it. 'Do' it. Involve yourself in it.

You and everyone else will be happier for it.