[mdlug] global desktop helpline

[mdlug at wowway.com]

So, here's my crazy idea - is it so crazy?

I pay for a home phone I hardly use.    But I'm keeping it.   Linux adoption
on the server side seems to be a done deal.   On the desktop, not so much.  

I envision a telephone number - mine can be forwarded - where people can call
for free help with desktop linux.   tickets would be entered into some kind of
website, and people from around the world could help with issues, and then the
person would be emailed to call back, and they would be talked through their
issue.  In the beginning it would just be desktop linux.   Maybe over time it
could be expanded to support more things.   

 I'd be happy to help support servers too, linux based firewalls, linux based
routers, whatever.   *BSD, all unix, and maybe the MacOS.   Maybe even OpenVMS
and mainframe.   

It would have to start off with just linux, because that's all I know.   That
and hp-ux.  

Anyone who was unemployed could answer the phone.   Prove yourself, and get
offered a job maybe.   The website would also be a job board.  Recruiters
could also call the phone # and see who was available to work and where.  
People could post their resumes on the job board.  

Of course, if people wanted to pay for help, once the line was established,
they could.   If people weren't satisfied, they wouldn't have to pay, or could
get their money back.  

It might seem crazy, but I make my living doing desktop support, CAD station
support, and CAE station support.    It pisses me off that the desktop market
is so limited.   Where I work, it's a foreign company, and back in the
homeland, they have nothing but 8 GB CAE linux workstations.  Perfect.   But
here, the CAE manager snuck in a bunch of windows desktops, "because they run
lotus notes (6.5) and M$ office."   and "because they're so much easier to
use."   And my boss agrees with that.   I could be out of job just because of
the things going on around here.   I mean, the slowdown.   

I can turn the ringer on my phone off and there is still a light that flashes.
  I could always change the number or drop my landline if it gets out of
control.  

Or maybe it would just be for very general questions.  Like from people who
are just hearing about linux and want to learn more, or journalists, etc.   

So tell me why I'm crazy.   or not.   Because we need to fight back somehow.