The State of LUGs around the world - Your experiences

[super_user_do]

What's the situation of LUGs and FOSS collectives/organizations in your country? Do they communicate well with either linux users, militants or the general public? Have you ever witnessed some kind of event? Are you part of a LUG or some kind of pro-FOSS organization? Share your experiences!

Thank you all in advance

 

[KGIII]

I've been to a couple of 'events' that were 'local' (which is decidedly not local by most definitions). I've also been to LinuxFest.

I don't think I met anyone 'militant' but I did find some folks who are passionate For the most part, you didn't have zealots, you had enthusiasts. (If that makes sense. I think those definitions work.)

I am kinda invited (from what I understand) to an Ubuntu event as I'm a member, but not in any official capacity unless I volunteer to do so. I could probably volunteer to do something but my dance card is pretty full.

 

[PsychoHermit]

I have started the Carson City, Nevada Linux Users Group. There are only 5 of us so far. Looking for ways to promote the LUG. Any good ideas would be welcomed.

--glenn

 

[arochester]

There's https://tldp.org/HOWTO/User-Group-HOWTO-5.html
But I guess it probably starts with Facebook and Twitter (Neither of which I do...)

 

[CrazedNerd]

There's a LUG relatively near me in washington dc but i didn't know the first thing about the subjects on their meetup page so i'm more drawn to this forum.

 

[KGIII]

I have started the Carson City, Nevada Linux Users Group. There are only 5 of us so far. Looking for ways to promote the LUG. Any good ideas would be welcomed.

--glenn

Find the various Linux forums and ask if you can start a thread on them promoting your LUG.

You have my permission to do so here. I'd put it in the General Linux sub-forum.

Write something up, give it a good title (like where and what condensed in the title), and post.

I'd ask permission at the other forums, but you have my permission to do so here. None of the mods or admins will mind. I believe I recognize you, so it's all good on this forum.

 

[Deleted member 108694]

This was the LUG I was going to until the founder moved so we are in limbo right now - https://nwflug.org/

 

[Deleted member 111282]

I haven't been aware of any by me, but I'm sure my local library won't mind helping me set one up. It'd be good way for people in my town to become interested in trying Linux, and then eventually making the switch from Windows.

 

[f33dm3bits]

The only ones I've gone to are more business like, which were Redhat days.

 

[JasKinasis]

I’ve been signed up to the Glastonbury Linux user groups mailing list, here in the U.K. for many years. As yet, I haven’t managed to get to any meetings. They don’t seem to be as active as they used to be though!

UPDATE - it seems that the Glastonbury LUG is dead/defunct and has been since 2016! I knew it had been a while since I last checked them out. Didn’t realise it had been THAT long! :/

But there is a new Somerset LUG that has just started up. I’ve unsubscribed from the Glasto one and have joined the Somerset one instead.
Only three members there, including myself and no messages yet!!

 

[Brickwizard]

it seems that the Glastonbury LUG is dead/defunct

I took a look at the UK LUG web site and those listed have not updated their individual listings for many years [10 or more] the nearest to me [Peterborough, Cambridge, Milton Keynes are all over 20 miles away if they are still going], so its not something I would consider joining

 

[MikeWalsh]

I took a look at the UK LUG web site and those listed have not updated their individual listings for many years [10 or more] the nearest to me [Peterborough, Cambridge, Milton Keynes are all over 20 miles away if they are still going], so its not something I would consider joining

Same here.

Whichever direction I look in - Peterborough is MY closest - I'm looking at a 100/120+ mile round trip, for very little point.

LUGs, from what I can see, used to be quite a big "thing" during the late 90s/early 2000s. But with the non-stop evolution of the web, and the abundance of Linux user forums for every distribution and/or facet of operation you can think of, where is the point in regularly subjecting your vehicle to all that wear-and-tear when you can find out all you want to online..?

I've made some good acquaintances online, and we regularly help each other out.....all from the comfort of our armchairs. I'm becoming a lazy bugger in my old age!!


Mike.

 

[Brickwizard]

I'm becoming a lazy bugger in my old age!!

Mike, I have been that way for many a year

Peterborough is MY closest - I'm looking at a 120+ mile round trip,

I take it you probably hid in the Lincolnshire Fens

 

[MikeWalsh]

I take it you probably hid in the Lincolnshire Fens

King's Lynn, mate.


Mike.

 

[Deleted member 137406]

We used to have computer flea markets where I live however those kinda just stopped many years back.

There was a lot of computer geeks there but I don't recall seeing anything to do with Linux and seemed to be pretty much Windows oriented.

 

[Brickwizard]

King's Lynn, mate.

that's not too far, but the A47 can be a right pig at times

 

[MikeWalsh]

@Bartman :-

With the exception of a short spell in the early 2000s, when I studied for & obtained my E.C.D.L (European Computer Driving Licence; still a widely-recognised 'official' qualification even today), I'm pretty much self-taught.....which stood me in good stead when I switched to "the Dark Side"! I've always been used to researching & solving my own problems anyway; there's this thing called the internet, with all the world's knowledge freely available for the searching. You'd be daft NOT to use it.

The only thing that put me off switching prior to EOL for XP was the fact that Linux was still reckoned to be pretty awkward. From the late 2.6-series/early 3-series kernels onwards, a lot of stuff became so much easier to configure and set-up.....almost as though at least SOME Linux folks realised that wider adoption by the general public was becoming an inevitability, and ease of operation was going to have to start taking priority for a change.

It was no longer going to be a 'geeks-only' club.

Mike.

 

[Deleted member 111282]

LUGs, from what I can see, used to be quite a big "thing" during the late 90s/early 2000s. But with the non-stop evolution of the web, and the abundance of Linux user forums for every distribution and/or facet of operation you can think of, where is the point in regularly subjecting your vehicle to all that wear-and-tear when you can find out all you want to online..?

While you aren't wrong about that, it is nice to meet people in person as well because then you can do more than just talk online. You can go to their houses or vice-versa, go to a restaurant, go play basketball, etc, and actually become friends with them. That's not to say you couldn't meet someone who has a lot in common with you online, but if you just have an online-only relationship with them, it doesn't feel as strong as seeing them in person.

 

[Deleted member 137406]

I never heard about Linux until 2013 / 2014 and by then it was pretty much install and use OOTB which worked for me.

 

[darry1966]

Looked here in NZ - Groups seemed to have gone online since the Covid thing happened. Here in Canterbury - Christchurch being the nearest group they have cancelled the meetings due re-purposing of the Sydenham library. No Software Freedom Day.

This makes me think that the experience of meeting others is now gone - online is not quite the same as meeting in person. Humans are social creatures after all. This makes forums like this even more important.