Re: AUGD: Visions of sugarplums
Re: AUGD: Visions of sugarplums
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Visions of sugarplums
- From: John Linthicum <email@hidden>
- Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2005 12:38:47 -0500
- Thread-topic: AUGD: Visions of sugarplums
On 12/4/05 9:29 AM, "email@hidden" <email@hidden> wrote:
>
> Hello All and Happy Holidays
>
> If my comments started this I want to apologize.
Now that I'm back in town, I can plainly see that my comments earlier in the
thread were taken a little more seriously than I intended, too. From what I
recall, the thread began with "It would be nice if..." or "Wouldn't it be
nice if..." I originally meant to emphasize the fact that if it's nice to
get a discount, then it would certainly be much nicer if if were free.
I did indeed say it sarcastically, because I really thought the original
poster meant it sarcastically as well.
> Those that know me would describe me as a nice, friendly person. I regret if
> my sense of humor came off badly.
We've never met, but being a mug leader, it tells me a little about who you
are. You're a server of and to people. That is to be admired. I wasn't
offended personally because we're all volunteers here, and that itself is to
be accepted as value.
Even if I were offended, that's ok too. I find lots of other things
offensive. I appreciate equally those who expressed offense back to the
list, as well as the silent majority who might have seen it for what it was,
and, like water off a duck's back, chose not to respond.
> My point (buried deep inside the sarcasm) is that I, too, have donated time,
> money and resources towards my labor of love, the Apple Macintosh User Groups.
> I will continue into the foreseeable future, too.
I'm going to echo Gary's point. I've been involved with our mug as a
founder, and every year since 2000 as a board member. I also realize that's
not as long as some of you, but that's irrelevant to this subject. I believe
deeply that it is a worthwhile way to spend my time, and I too will remain
involved for the foreseeable future.
I believe the major point of contention to the thread is that, as leaders,
who do we believe we're serving?
>From the posts to the list, I'm quite surprised to see that some believe
we're serving Apple by being a mug leader. I've *never* believed I'm helping
a company. I'm here for the members, and the group as a whole. I've never
seen my time with the group as some sort of "unpaid representative" for
Apple, and as such we're due some sort of compensation in the form of a
discount, or freebie. But as the original poster said, it would be nice if
it were extended to us, but currently it's not. Somehow being entitled to it
is beyond my scope of understanding.
I don't believe I can impartially serve the organization if I felt that sort
of allegiance to Apple. That statement is not to say that I'm not a fan of
their products or services, nor that I don't prefer a Mac to do my personal
computing. What it does say is that I am loyal to the people of our mug
first and foremost. If Apple screws up, I love the fact that I am free to
criticize them, their paid representatives, and/or their products, without
repercussion, in front of individual members or the group as a whole. The
vast majority of our members feel the same way.
Indeed some of our members do see their participation in our mug as some
sort of evangelism for Apple; that even the smallest opportunity to stand in
its shadow is greeted with joy and exaltation. I think it's great that
they've decided that spending time with our mug is worthy of their time too.
They're great folks, and I consider them friends! They are an asset we'd be
remiss without.
>> I used to think everyone in the Apple crowd were nice friendly people. With
>> the way this thread has turned so sarcastically nasty I am having to
>> re-evaluate my opinions.
Isn't it great that we have a forum that you can do such a thing. I too have
learned things about other group leaders that I wasn't aware of before from
this thread.
Please do re-evaluate. Just be honest about why you're doing it. Are you
doing it because you were greeted with dissenting opinions? Or because they
weren't presented in an erudite manner?
Don't get angry about it and let it ruin your day. Life's too short, and
Macworld is a month out.
--
Regards,
John Linthicum
President
XMUG, A Macintosh User Group
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