It is an attempt to get help, but not in the sense that you're thinking.

Writing helps me solidify what I'm learning as I go, because I have to formalize and explain what I'm experiencing. When I wrote my first gist-post, I was simply trying to capture my own thoughts so I could move on to the next learning experience.

However, I discovered a side benefit: Ruby-ists cannot resist commenting on Ruby posts. The comments, even if critical of me or my approach, have been HUGE in helping me understand what I'm experiencing at a different level. That alone is enough for me to want to post more.