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143 sats \ 0 replies \ @freetx 17 Jul \ on: My last "Bitcoin, Hands-On" workshop was a bust. I'll try something else. bitcoin_beginners
So I was an early Linux user in the mid 90s. I helped setup the local LUG (Linux User Group) in my area of the state.
In the beginning (say 1996) we were mainly focused on new user onboarding....we used to hold "install-fest" that is we would encourage people to bring their computers to the meeting and we would help them install linux. Our goal was to show normal PC users that they didn't need to pay for an OS for regular computer use. That was marginally successful, but not really.
By 1999, we had migrated into being the opposite: a social group for advanced linux users....almost completely dropping the "new user" emphasis. Now obviously if a new user actually did show up to a meeting we would all be super helpful in answering their questions, but the truth was very few people did that.
In the end we were a group of about 20 people who would meet monthly and basically help each other with our work related linux issues, eat pizza, drink beer, and generally talk about Linux.
By 2005 or so the LUG completely disbanded. We were a victim of Linux's general success. By that time it was solidly accepted that Linux was the cornerstone of the internet tech world....and well there was little need to meet in person to discuss it.
Semi-relatedly most of us in the LUG had undergone vast changes in employment situation in that 10 years.
In 1997, the average member of the group was a Jr Sys-Admin who pushing to use linux in our respective companies, but generally completely blocked by higher ups.....by 2005 we were leading the charge and had maybe job hopped a couple of times and now were in fast growing linux focused companies....so the "social support" aspect of the LUG was no longer needed....