Disappearing LUGs
I've noticed a distinct decline in operational LUGs. In my area (Seattle / Tacoma), most have closed up shop, and those that still have functioning web sites and email lists have very little traffic. Many of the web sites seem to exist only because the domain has not yet expired.
Is this an actual trend? Or am I not looking hard enough? |
I cannot speak to trends; only to my experience. The Southeast Michigan LUG (www.semilinux.org) seems to be doing well.
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I know that my LUG is going strong, but perhaps is not as large as it used to be. I've only been a member for three years, since I moved to this area, but that's the impression I get.
I have heard some folks theorize that Linux has gotten so much easier to install and to use than it was, say, 10 or 15 years ago, and that online help has gotten so much easier to find that there is less incentive for new users to seek out user groups. "Install fests," which used to be a staple for LUGs, are not very frequent any more. This is a general observation: One of the things I've noticed with groups like LUGs (sociologists call them "voluntary associations") is that there are often two or three persons who are the moving spirits keeping them going. When those persons run out of energy, move away, lose interest (admittedly not likely with a Linux geek), or even pass away, and no one is there to replace them, the group often peters out in a relatively short time. If there's a demand, a new group will form to take its place. |
well, not being "hard core" (unlike my father who has 4 machines with multiple distros), I've stuck with Red Hat since v9, moved to RHEL and then CentOS, and never had issues installing. But like I said, I'm not "adventurous". No Slackware for me.
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Don't need to be adventurous to use Slackware unlike some less stable or changeable offerings.
I find that CUG's in general are declining. Computers and their accoutrements once were a hobby of a enthusiast sub group but as they have become more an more household appliances, the culture surrounding them has changed. Coupled with increased on-line access via the Internet, person-to-person groups and clubs are declining. |
I agree with frankbell's analysys.
Anyway the problem is how to keep alive a LUG that has less and less members. More in general: Have "physical" LUGs still a usefulness or by now we have to talk only about great online group? |
Many LUGs seem to be replaced, in terms of getting warm bodies at a common location, with linux conventions. Where I'm "near" there's a ctlug mailing list and it's still lightly active. It used to get together at a physical location almost monthly. But you're more likely to meet at the annual convention than an actual LUG meeting these days.
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When I used to live in south Florida, there was a LUG that was vigorously kept alive by enthusiasts and held regular meetings. That went on for years, and then 2 years ago it died off.
Local LUG in New Mexico, where I live now, seems to be doing pretty well (though I am yet to attend one of their meetings) from I can gather from their website. I agree there is a general trend towards duying off of LUGs. Online meetings can't replace in- person gatherings, in my opinion. It may be more convenient, but the "magic" of in- person meetings just isn't there with meetings online. |
The Lugs have not died they just closed psycialy and reborn on the internet as virtual only lugs.
But there are still a few around, i really prefer to have a real Lug with a premises where you can meet once a month for a coffee or maybe a beer and discuss not only linux related stuff it can be any of interest. Maybe have an internet connection with a few home built server from leftover computers, the problem is to be able to do that some fee is required for rent electricity. And not all are so found of paying a membership fee. |
I have a cousin that is a member of an Atari enthusiasts' group. They "solve the membership fee problem" by holding their monthly meetings in a pizza joint. Of course, it is not a solution if one thing done at the meetings is using computers.
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Here's a question: Is Linux now too "mainstream" for lugs? Many distros no longer take much effort to install and configure on most computers, and say what you will about Ubuntu, but it is very "consumer friendly". With Steam now developing a Linux distro for their content, perhaps the last piece of the puzzle is both more consumer software for Linux. For the most part Linux installers and package formats have been distilled down to a few systems that work well for idiots like me, software instillation is no longer much of an issue beyond distro peculiarities and dependency issues. |
There must be some lugs on the universities of some kind?
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LUGs may be declining in popularity because of the events that hold (or, rather, the events they don't hold). I know there was good turnout at a talk given by Jim Gettys about buffer bloat a few months back, but that talk was considered a "special event" and isn't typical of our LUG meetings. Just having discussions about Linux or asking for help now usually means going to the Internet, not trying to find other Linux users in your area. |
not suprised.
When youre done get out, start working, met someone, get a family, do stuff on your house get older get tired then lugs on the net is more of an option :) I rally would like to start a small community with meeting networking, coffee local bar just a place to hangaround once a week but time just passes on nowdays and i don't have the time any more. I leave that to you young guys full who is full of energy and creativity :p |
I'd like to find an LUG in my area, the only one I know of in the vicinity isn't really too close.
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The last "LUG" I attended, all they wanted to do was blah blah blah for hours on the gnome desktop and android eye candy.
I might be alone in Yawnstown, Ohio. |
london calling
Didn't know about these. Just checked and London UK's last LUG seems to have been 5th Oct 2010. None planned as far as I can tell either. Kent's looks like it is still going. Perhaps because they don't see consuming beer as a primary purpose. That could be done without an LUG. May well go to Kent's on 8th March... I say may because I've got ridiculous commitments and its a bit far but I like the idea of it..
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I'm trying to get a local one going but it's kinda flat..
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I think the fact that I don't want it to be online only is whats causing the issues.
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The "other" John Jones. :) |
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I've only been to a couple of the meetings (so far) but the Boston LUG (www.blu.org) seems to be doing pretty well. There is also a seperate LUG for Desktop users. I haven't been to any of those meetings yet but would like to get a chance in the near future. They are a remnant of the old Boston Computer Society which folded up shop back in the 90's. Fortunately some of the UGs continued on independently and the Linux Group was one of them.
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The beauty of Linux UGs is that you can gear them towards different crowds. The beginning desktop user and the 'power' users (for lack of a better term). I for one would love to go to a meeting covering Systemd and creating RPMs for instance. |
It's all caused by the presence of the forums.
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The public library system in my neck of the woods uses Linux (of the Mint variety now) almost exclusively, excepting a few Windows 7 boxes, but a library that employs Linux does not a LUG make.
I've sought out other users, but nothing has come together. Perhaps the expanding nature of Linux distributions and the proliferation of readily available Linux aids online is the reason for the seeming decline of LUG. Regardless, I'm still interested in forming one, if I can't find one. |
Ctlug?
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@ Mr. Macintosh, the last post was just short of 3yrs ago,,, kinda gives the impression that LUGS are disappearing ;)
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In the last city I was living in I stopped going to the LUG because over 10 years ago, It was mainly burnout mainframe guys who were only interested in talking about hardware. The folks running it were only interested in furthering their careers and it was hard to get questions answered on the mailing listso I gave up.
In the city I'm living in now, I went a few years ago and there was a great presentation, however the turnout was so disappointing, that I thought why bother, I'll just stick with online forums. |
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Some of the members thought about about calling for electing new leaders, however one of the top members had ties to a "non-profit" which acquired space that allow us a Linux computer lab with a projector and white board. The thinking was if we elected a new members, then we would lose that space, so the status quo was maintained. |
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