[wellylug] (no subject)

[Wood Brent]

--- Sam Cannell <sam at plaz.net.nz> wrote:
> In my opinion, "Linux user group" should be just that - a group for
> linux users and other interested parties to get together and chat.  It
> is not, and should never be, synonymous with "Linux advocacy group" or
> "Open source evangelism group" or anything similar.
> 
> I'd like to feel that anyone with any kind of interest in Linux would be
> able to attend and pick up some knowledge without feeling like they owe
> it to other group members to convert to Open Source.

Ahh- but we run into bigotry on all sides. All these say the LUG should only be
for Linux Users who agree with all my incredibly well considered opinions.
(Should we let Debian users in or let them DUG themselves into a hole? :-)

It's not really relevant whether you believe in advocacy or not. What matters
is whether you respect everyone's right to their own opinion, even if it
differs from yours.

The LUG should be for anyone who uses Linux, various members may have different
opinions & want different things out of the LUG. Doesn't make any of them
wrong, and if some members have an approach you are uncomfortable with, leaving
the LUG to them is hardly an effective solution.

The Linux evangelism (at least in my case) is largely a reaction to watching IT
consultants spend weeks setting up proprietary systems, charging large amounts
of dosh for something that an OpenSource solution does for nothing out of the
box. As long as such "experts" are out there, I believe there is a need for
someone to point out the alternatives. Both to the "experts" & those who pay
them.

They are NOT going to ask about alternatives, so some sort of evangelism is the
only way to try & open their eyes, & eventually their minds. 

I agree with those who are not comfortable with a one-eyed approach, such as
"this OS is the ONLY solution", but I suggest that they at least can express
this in the LUG and can have their say as to how such things are best addressed
by the LUG.

As the recent traffic shows :-)

Brent