[clug] The harsh realities of CLUG

[Ian Bardsley]

Hmmm....  I have just read through the dichotomy of replies to Pauls 
original post and as usual these replies contain a lot of good ideas and 
intent.

As a non technical, non IT industry Linux home user who has spent some 3 
years learning the basics of this excellent operating system to a point 
where I am quite comfortable using and administering my small home 
network including a "Myth Box", I feel I should throw my two bobs worth 
into the discussion.

I think that the current structure of CLUG is as good as it needs to 
be.  The mailing list is, for this kind of organisation the best and 
simplest way for people to communicate.  It works, it doesn't impose an 
huge burden on anyone to administer yet still provides a vehicle for 
questions, rants, information and advice.  I cant see how Twitter, 
Facebook, Wikis or Fancy interactive web pages and the like are going to 
improve things.  Just keep it simple.

The many occasions that I have consulted the collective wisdom of the 
list's members to improve my understanding of some aspect of Linux with 
which I was struggling has always yielded at least part of the answer to 
my struggle. For this I am grateful and in return I am quite happy to 
"Kick the Tin" to assist in the goals of CLUG if I can contribute.

If CLUG really wishes to play a part in attracting and educating Mum and 
Dad users to the world of Linux then it is necessary for many more 
people to devote some time to this goal than it appears exist at the 
moment.  The hardest thing to do is to make people aware that Linux 
exists, that it is a fully functional alternative to the Windows OS that 
came with their PC or Notebook when they bought it and that there are 
some significant advantages to making the switch to Linux.  To achieve 
this there needs to be "Marketing Activity" and that takes effort.  
There are many ways to market something with little or no cost but it 
does need people to make it happen.

Now, I don't attend CLUG meetings as a rule because the content of the 
meetings are generally too technical for me and I would not gain 
anything from attending.  On the few occasions that I have attended a 
CLUG event however, I havn't found the environment particularly 
welcoming.  This does not worry me personally because I have a very 
thick skin but I can see how the more sensitive souls in this world 
could be put off by an environment of colleages talking amongst 
themselves, people fiddling with Netbooks, mates interacting with mates 
and no one interacting with the person who is attending for the first 
time looking for some guidance.

So I guess that what really needs to be said is that if you are prepared 
to spend time replying to a post on this list with comments or ideas 
then be equally prepared to make a more practical contribution as well.

Perhaps the next CLUG meeting should focus on defining a few short and 
long term goals for CLUG and allocating names to tasks to move things ahead.

Just a few random thoughts and observations

Regards

Ian Bardsley






On 18/05/10 21:31, Paul Wayper wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I happened to meet a couple of people who are experienced Linux users but
> aren't regular CLUG attendees and are not on the CLUG list.  I asked them what
> their opinions of the CLUG were, and (paraphrasing and coming through the
> imperfect filter of my memory) they basically said that their experience of
> the CLUG was of an intimidating bunch of know-it-alls with a whole motherboard
> of chips on their shoulder and an intolerance to anyone who broke the
> unwritten and arbitrary rules of the list.
>
>    
SNIP