"Jon 'maddog' Hall, Executive Director, Linux International" wrote:
>
> Let no one tell you different....LUGs are the backbone and lifeblood of Linux.
This is what I have always thought, since many developers, evangelists,
etc. grow out of LUG's. My question to the list was two-fold 1) to see
where people stood on this sort of statement in the media and 2) to see
where people though the focus of the LUG should be. I for one know that
I would never have gotten anywhere with Linux if it weren't for this
particular LUG.
> I agree with Bruce Dawson (and others) though...it is time for the LUGs to
> move to the next step (not to be confused with NextStep(TM), an operating
> system by Steve Jobs).
>
> While install fests and NUN nights are still useful, we should move the
> level up one or two notches to "solution nights". A "home network" night,
> showing people how to set up their home network from DSL or cable input to
> LAN (including firewalls, SAMBA servers, AppleTalk servers, etc.
>
> Or a "business night", showing people how to set up a small home office,
> complete with accounting software.
I think that this could be a good direction to go in, not just for
individual LUG meetings, but possibly for the next large event in place
of the LBS. Maybe a day long event that has different areas for
businesses, home use, applications, etc.
> Be in-your-face-offensive about Linux. Wear penguin clothing and pins, not
> only to Linux meetings, but to church. I had two people in the Dunkin' Donuts
> yesterday ask me about Linux, having seen my penguin.
This is where many people differ in opinion. Some will say that the best
way to advocate is to be subtle and to infiltrate quietly, while others
believe more in the "in-your-face" tactics. Now, being the shy, quiet
type that I am, I have problems with that ;-) Seriously, though, I have
to agree that it is best to be up front and brutally honest in
advocating Linux. If someone says that they have a problem with a
Microsoft product, tell them that you have the solution and hand them a
Linux CD!
> FREE installation fests and FREE NUN nights don't indicate that Linux is hard
> to install or use....simply that there are people who are so enthusiastic about
> it that they devote their time and energy to promoting it. There is a reason
> why these LUGs don't exist to the same degree and enthusiasm for Microsoft
> products.....Microsoft has nothing to be enthusiastic about, nothing which
> drives their users to enthusiasm.
I both understand and agree with this, but how do we convey that message
to people who aren't familiar with the movement? If the perception is
that Linux is hard to install and use, and that is why there needs to be
installfests, etc., and "perception is reality", then it seems to be a
no-win situation: We hold installfests to show people that is easy, but
they think that it is hard because we hold installfests. How do we
advertise the excitement that we have for Linux?
Kenny
--
-------------------------------------------------
Kenneth E. Lussier
Geek by nature, Linux by choice
PGP KeyID 0xD71DF198
Public key available @ http://pgp.mit.edu
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