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Support Your Local ... DNUG?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the grassroots-or-grass-mat dept.

Akallabeth, the Arch-Lich writes: "New to town, I was trolling around for a LUG or two, and found this. Find your own DNUG here. Now, I can see the need for a support group for .NET users group, as no one really knows what it does. But, an UG founded by for-profit companies? That are Microsoft Certified Partners? With prize givaways listed on the meeting schedule? Something don't smell right. Oh, and they have banner ads too." However genuine or organized, local "support groups" seem like a good idea to me. Maybe we could all go toss a frisbee?

6 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. What's the issue ? by tmark · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't see the problem. You admit that there's a need for .NET user groups. Who cares that they're run by for-profit groups or by Microsoft partners ? I don't even care if they charge people to use them, since nothing is preventing anyone from starting a "free", more traditional user's group. If there's a need, it's GREAT to see it being served - however it happens. Do you have a problem with Open-source companies charging for their consulting time ?

  2. seems logical by Morphine007 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    LUGs attract people to Linux... usually just out of shee curiosity... I imagine that Micro$oft et al. are trying to accomplish much the same thing with their DNUG in terms of attracting people to .NET... even if only out of sheer curiosity...I mean, after all, how many install nights has your LUG had??

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    1. Re:seems logical by jerdenn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I imagine that Micro$oft et al. are trying to accomplish much the same thing with their DNUG in terms of attracting people to .NET...

      Except your missing one key fact. Most of the DNUGs are started by 'regular people' trying to learn .NET, and not started by Microsoft. So yes, while I am sure that Microsoft supports the idea of DNUGs, they are not the driving force that is starting them. It's actually just a bunch of 'geeks' that want to learn about new technology. How's that so different from LUGs?

      -jerdenn

  3. Hmm...that's funny... by Shoten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't remember anyone making a big stink when US Robotics started Palm User Groups. What's the big deal? It's not like people are being snatched off the street and forced to attend these groups as if they were "political re-education camps." Besides...who else would be better suited to start such groups...Red Hat?? No, maybe Oracle...uh, no...AOL?

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  4. Is it real, or is it AstroTurf? by wowbagger · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Many of the comments have been of the form "$OtherCompany has created UGs for $OtherProduct, so what's the big deal?" And I agree, if that is all this is, then more power to them.

    However, given Microsoft's long history of AstroTurfing, I think folks are right to be suspicious of this - is this real grassroots support or is this manicured AstroTurf?

    Remember, real grass gets weeds, Astroturf doesn't. If these are REAL UG's, then there will be plenty of "Hey, this (doesn't work | sucks | is too hard)" type complaints, both in the meetings and on the web sites. If this is AstroTurf, then it will be all smiles and roses and drink the KoolAid, and Microsoft will point to these pseudo-UGs and say "See all the support you get from the user community? Just like Open Source!"

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    1. Re:Is it real, or is it AstroTurf? by sheldon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why don't you go to the user group meetings and find out for yourself?

      The few meetings I have been to had around 200 people, some of the early ones were closer to 500-600. None of these people were paid to be there, they all just came because they were interested in learning more about .Net. I don't see that as astroturfing.

      Is astroturfing posting a big story on slashdot about a March on the San Francisco city hall to support Linux, but then not posting any of the stories which said only 10 people showed up?