Poll: Do you participate in a local Mac User Group?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: Do you participate in a local Mac User Group? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=144&ref=forums.macrumors.com)

[yzedf]

Not anymore. Used Napster 'back in the day' as it coincided with new cablemodem.

[janey]

the iteens mug (http://www.iteens.com), the silicon valley mug, and just out of curiosity the lesbian gay and bisexual mac users group for all of los angeles :p
they're all on apple's mug website.

[fixyourthinking]

The average MUG I have been to (14) as been horrible.

There are two local MUGs. The first one, I started going, after two meetings, I was doing all the presentations. By the 5th meeting, unannounced to me, everyone (20 different people) had brought in their Mac, set it on a table like an assembly factory, for me to fix; FREE of charge, during the meeting

The other local MUG has a president who is a rumormonger (gets all his "facts" from places like this) - doesn't know anything, and I mean anything, about Macs. They also promote their users to go to unauthorized service centers and the meetings are downright boring.

It is easy to detect similar patterns and poorly run groups in the others I have been to. There are exceptions. The User's Group in Atlanta is pretty good.

I'm going to start my own locally when my retail store is finsished. Part of my retail space is even going to be called MUGHALL (it will be a 30 seat meeting area) with Plasma screen and podium + a tech/display display desk.

[beer]

we work as an underground, non organized, gurerilla Mac society... undermining any kind of Microsuck... ... ehm.. just some friends to trade .. Mac Things...

[medea]

no, the two local mug groups here are full of old people.

[toledOHIO]

If you talk about your machines and software with homies, I consider that a user group. Organization serves nothing. :confused:

[MacBandit]

I've tried to on many occasions but everytime I think I know where they are meeting either I am wrong or they have moved. It's like trying to track down some underground anarchist movement or something.

[wdlove]

No, I have the information our local group that meets at MIT. I have just not gotten motivated to attend! :(

[Centris 650]

No. The closest one is about 45 minutes away and plus I'm way to busy to attend. I had an intern once who went to some (this was about 10 years ago in DC) and he brought back some really cool stuff and tricks.

[MacFan25]

nope, i dont. I'm not sure if there are any where I live.

[cr2sh]

One day I was walking across campus and I saw something I'd never seen in my life. There were flyers stuck to a posting board, covering the entire board with apple logos. I went over, excited as hell to have finally found a mac users group on campus that was no doubt full of young, energetic musicians, artists, and enthusiasts who had seen the truth. The meeting was that day at 12:30, just two hours away! I stayed on campus, working in the labs, killing time.. I couldn't wait to meet hese people and see what they had to talk about. At 12:30 I went over to Baker Systems (where they have the g4 lab!) and sat down in this huge auditorium and waited. There were a few old people there and I thought "hmm.. I guess Apple attracts all ages." Then these other older folks showed up.. they were in their 60's, and I thought "Wow, this is really great." Then more old people came.. then one old person wheeled a g4 with 17" lcd out and tried to hook up the lcd projector. He fumbled around and couldn't get it to work.. I sat there thinking "That's kinda odd..." Then he started talking, and other old people tried to help him and explain how to do it. I just sat there, waiting for the cool people my age to show up.

They never did. About the time the old man started his presentation called: "What's the difference between a Macintosh and a Windows Computer?" I got up and walked out. Old people suck, but dumb old people... really suck. :mad:

[janey]

they have lots of online only MUG's. and for teens of course they have the iTeens MUG.

[MaxArturo]

I didn't even know they did this until now...

[scem0]

Originally posted by MaxArturo
I didn't even know they did this until now...

same here. So, no, I don't participate in a local user group.

[cubist]

We have a nice UG in the DC area called Washington Apple Pi. I've never been to a meeting but they have classes and a Garage Sale twice a year.

As for the age-ism I see on this thread... I find smug young people extremely irritating. Look up "smug" in the dictionary before you take offense... Everyone dislikes a know-it-all. And remember, an old person has once been young, but a young person has never been old.

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by cubist
And remember, an old person has once been young, but a young person has never been old.

Ugh... I won't even start this debate. Your point is noted, but we disagree.

Why hang up flyers on a college to campus, to a UG meeting for old people, especially when the material covered is so fundamental? The generation gap of technology alone should have stopped them. Old people should recognize their limitations just as the young should.

[bcsimac]

Yes, I do attend them and participate when I can. I have had transportation problems in the past so it was hard to attend. When I have transportation, know the date and time and location of meeting, and am not working, I attend and love it. Yes, some meetings are boring. You have to take the bad with the good if you ask me. I am just glad there are local mac user groups......I hate feeling like I am all alone as a Mac user. I attended about two meetings with the Birmingham Apple Core and even joined the user group....paid the dues. I had trouble getting transportation to it.....and a couple of times they had to move due to construction. It had two guys my age and a few middle age guys and the rest were retirees. I don't mind the age thing. Of course, I am more prone to accept our elderly population that most because when my mom and dad had their annual summer separation deals I lived with my great grandma or my grandpa and grandma. Also currently, I am in charge of nursing home ministries in my church. I find that some of the older ones aren't so bad......they remember better the days of the Apple II, Lisa, and the Original Mac 128k and to me that is interesting. Yeah, they can be slow to understand a few things and sometimes seem behind the times on a few things; but often they have sound good wise advice. The one that I currently go to when I get a chance is the Erie Apple Crunchers. Most of them are middle-aged......I am definitely the youngest. There are two retirees in the meeting. One of them used to work for Erie Computer as an Apple/Mac consultant.....although he is also heavy into science and history.....which can make things a bit boring. I find a lot of them appreciate the knowledge and expertise that I bring into the meeting. They always comment on how they wish the younger generation would come more often and stick around instead seeing them as old people and just leaving. I have to agree with them.....I think its unfair and well plain rude for the younger ones to write them off like that.

[wdlove]

Is there anyone here that attends the UG here in Boston?