As a person interested in computing it's been wonderful to have an OS where you can inspect it's source to understand how it works fundamentally. But even with that, I probably wouldn't want to pursue OS concepts were it not for the community.
People here (and on irc, distro fourms, etc) have treated me like a peer who's working together with them to further our collective understanding of whatever issue is at hand; Someone capable of independent thought, instead of an irate consumer.
This attitude has made all the difference.
Instead of dreading the dysfunctional hell of talking to someone in a call center when troubleshooting an issue, I now look at troubleshooting as an opportunity to learn something new. It almost feels like a team sport.
After a few years of interactions like this, I feel that I've grown as a person, learned a ton of new skills, and maybe become a little more compassionate when interacting with people online.
So, I just wanted to say thank you. I hope to treat the next person who needs help with the same authenticity, intellectual curiosity, and compassion that I've been accorded these past few years!
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