Ambassadors/AnswerQuestions

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How to answer questions like a Fedora Ambassador

Have you joined or are you thinking about joining the Fedora Ambassadors project? Are you worried about how to best answer questions about Fedora? We want you to be comfortable when you speak to others about Fedora. People can pick up on your fear and uncertainty. If you ever need to talk to us, please feel free to do so. We welcome your questions and we want to do our best to help you. See the Ambassadors homepage for contact details. Here, we will try to provide you with some basic pointers and guidelines to help you accurately represent Fedora and do so comfortably.

Relax and be confident in your statements.

Take the time to research Fedora. If you know the subject, and understand the ideas behind it, you will be able to demonstrate confidence in discussion. You will not always be well-received, so it helps if you are prepared to explain the facts of Fedora. In particular, look over the Fedora FAQ , the Talking Points , and the Ambassadors FAQ . Don't get scared if you can't answer every question. Don't hesitate to say "I don't know." You can always trade contact information and get back to people after checking in with the Project to get answers to a question. Fedora is a big project, and there's a lot of valuable information behind it. If you're stuck in a tight spot, see if you can get to the Internet and get in touch with the Community. There's always someone who will be happy to help you. Also, refer people to Fedora's online resources so that they can find answers themselves. This gives them the opportunity to learn more about Fedora long after your conversation has ended.

We aren't competing with other distributions.

We aren't trying to compete with other distributions for users. We are trying to provide a valuable platform, backed by a strong community, that presents the best in free and open source software. Keep in mind that users of other GNU/Linux distributions have many of the same goals as we do. Different distributions often work together or benefit from one another.

That said, we do want to be the best distribution we can be, and we can draw some distinctions between Fedora and other distributions. When you are out promoting Fedora, try to demonstrate the strengths of Fedora. Show how we are great. Don't try to play down other distributions. You're trying to make friends, and taking a negative attitude toward the distribution of the person or people you are talking to won't make you any friends.

As an Ambassador, you represent Fedora.

When you speak to others as a Fedora Ambassador, you represent the Fedora Project in their eyes. They can't make the distinction between your opinions and the policies of the Fedora Project. Avoid 'sneaking around' Fedora policies. Back up the stance of the Project on thorny issues. Know the issues from the ForbiddenItems page and know them well. Understand why Fedora has its policies, and you will be able to back Fedora with pride and confidence. Understanding this information will also help keep you out of tight and uncomfortable debates.