[cumbria_lug] Do LUGs still matter?

[Russ Phillips]

I agree with Trevor - LUGs still matter. I remember seeing adverts for
"computer clubs" back in the 1980's, when people were using Spectrums
& Commodore 64s. To me, the LUGs serve the same purpose as those clubs
did, which was presumably to give people with an interest in the
technology an opportunity to socialise with like-minded people.

Another reason for the continued relevance of LUGs is support. I
believe that one of the things holding people back from using Linux is
that their mate/relative/colleague/whatever that "knows about
computers", and who provides support when things goes wrong, doesn't
"know about computers", but in fact "knows about Windows". This means
that, if this person adopts Linux (or *BSD, or anything that isn't
Windows) then they lose that easily-accesible source of support. I
think that one function of LUGs is to replace that person, and be an
easily-accesible source of support. There is a lot to be said for
having a real-life person to talk to, one that you can see, rather
than someone on the end of the phone, IRC client, e-mail list, or
whatever.

Russ