[oclug] Re: oclug traffic

[Chris H]

On Wednesday 03 November 2004 10:48, Rod Giffin wrote:

> Just want to point out one little thing though.  If you read item 4 on
> http://www.oclug.on.ca/principles.php.  Also see the last sentence in
> section 5 on the same page, you get... I should say, I get - a different
> perspective on what OCLUG saw itself as when we wrote those principles,
> from what is apparently currently striving to be.  That is akin to an
> identity crisis.

OK reviewed those docs and here is what I get. The para's are in line and 
consistent if and only if you conclude that para 5 is an official statement 
via OCLUG and para 4 is not. 

In other words the promotion of advocacy happens on two parallel streams, one 
that is precipitated on the lists via statements such as are typical, "suse 
sucks, yast sucks, debian is the grounds for my existence and the basis for 
my progeny..pun intended" and formalized statements released by OCLUG 
executives to the more general public...of which I have not seen any (but 
that does not matter) So with respect to list monitoring and an identity 
crisis I would agree and disagree only from the perspective that at present 
there is no functional identity as an identity is not based on documented 
theme papers rather on actions, commitment and follow-up or follow-through. 
This requires a program however and one that is managed. 

At present I don't see any of this happening and for me its perfectly OK. 
Irrelevancy is also OK. So Im fine with the status quo. Others may not be 
however so I am only posting all this as we seem to go through this 
masochistic need to draw attention to ourselves every few years and get all 
bent out of shape about it and the reality is that very little changes or 
endures over time. An example, the last exercise produced a new website and a 
new event (linux in the wild). Was that worth all the fuss that was 
made...for me the answer is hell no. YMMV. Heck my old church back in 
Hamilton was more active. You do not want to get in the way of immigrant 
woman bent on a mission to change something and it was fascinating to watch 
growing up. These gal's could organize anything in record time and even make 
the men believe they were in charge and doing it all.(taking credit for it) 
Now thats talent..:) 

So with respect to an identity crisis I would agree with you and also state 
that its is welcomed, a needed activity that can lead to an intervention 
(hopefully one that is less painfull this time) that has the 'potential' to 
bear long term and sustainable results. Chasing relevancy for relevancy's 
sake is a waste of precious time and effort however.