Re: AUGD: Re: Health of AUG BBSs
Re: AUGD: Re: Health of AUG BBSs
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Re: Health of AUG BBSs
- From: "Den Piota" <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 10:47:18 -0500
Hi all,
Thanks for responding to my question. I haven't digested it all yet and will follow up once I have. I think there's a lot here.
Right now I have two things:
1- I've made a big deal about the difference between a corporate forum (like Craig's List forums, Yahoo, Apple, MacWorld Community etc.) and an independently owned, volunteer run forum (for me that means Apple User Group BBSs). As Microsoft bids for Yahoo I'm reminded that this could be a bigger deal than I thought:
When I first posted last week on Craig's List Apple/Mac forum I was flagged for spamming because after stating my question I said "I'm also making a pitch for boston.bbs". Since it charges a membership fee because it's not corporately sponsored that was spamming.
The next day I followed up with the thread I cited in my first post here. It was allowed as long as I didn't mention the name of a particular Apple User Group that has a membership fee. This is an "apple/mac" forum where you cannot talk about apple user groups. Am I over-reacting?
Corporately sponsored boards are great for their niche (a huge niche though it is). Craigs homepage cites 82,931,990 posts for all forums, 77,987 in the last 24 hours! Competing with them is a laughable idea. But I find it disturbing we can't even talk about ourselves - about the unique values of particular small groups of online users. I've found we are often very different even though we fit under the AUG umbrella.
2- When I joined this distlist I had just come off of a rough and tumble exchange on Craig's List where everyone has a handle. I signed up as "Den Piota". My real name is "Dennis Piechota". Perhaps I should sign up again under my real name. seeing everyone post under their real names I apologize for misrepresenting my self.
Dennis Piechota
Member of Boston BBS
On Feb 5, 2008 9:09 AM, Chuck Joiner <
email@hidden> wrote:
>
>I truly believe that as the computer has evolved, so has the user
>base. Ergo, so must the AUGs.
>
>The 35s and younger no al the information that they need lies on the
>internet. This crowd is not baffled by the blinking "12:00" on a VCR.
Great point, Frank...one that is way too often overlooked, especially as
the leadership of so many groups age. Sad thing is that so many still
are in that mindset and resist new ideas and new opportunities.
>
>I think AUGs need to be showcases and critique centers. I believe that
>users want to demonstrate what they have done, be it video or databases.
Agreed. One mistake I believe many MUGs make is that they try to re-
create the wheel. There are many terrific places to go to get really
good, detailed tech support, global Mac news coverage, etc., yet many
groups still try to make this a focus of their own web presences. While
there's a lot to be said for local help, and that is a key piece to any
group, why not adopt a forum somewhere and make that where you hang out
and send all your members?
The forums at Macworld.com jump to mind - lots of intelligent people,
good quality traffic, quick responses. Dont' go in and try to take them
over, but why not post Q&A there with a simple one-line sig:
Member of (insert your MUG name here)
If you or your members post questions, they get the benefit of all the
accumulated knowledge. If you or they post answers, they are shared with
a wider audience.
Things like that free you up to do what you need to do locally - plan
good meetings, etc.
Shameless plug (sort of): A new User Groups 2.0 Leadership Conference is
being scheduled for later this month. The date will be announced shortly
on The MUG Center, or email me and I'll be sure you get the information.
Thanks,
---Chuck
_____________
Chuck Joiner
Editor-In-Chief
The MUG Center
http://www.mugcenter.com
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