[plug] Society of Linux Professionals (WA) Inaugural Meeting

[Brian Tombleson]

> This is the part that is starting to worry me, Leon.  I can see the
"mores"
> f**king off and leaving the "lesses" floundering in their wake.  After
all,
> what "Professional" would want to hang around and continue to build on
> [PLUG] when you can do so much more for yourself at THE business end of
THE
> Profession?   (:o^)

Many businesses are already operating and have been for 10 years or more in
Linux and still are members of PLUG, contribute to PLUG, support PLUG,
promote PLUG and fundementally believe that PLUG is a good thing and wants
it to keep going.

This is not a replacement, it's separate.  This is what we've been trying to
explain.  There should be no conflict here.

> eg.
> Which MSCE would want to hang around with the DOS freaks?
> Which artiste would want to work in Sydney when they can work in
Hollywood?
> Which polly would stick around on the back bench when he/she could be the
> Prime Minister?
> Which concert violinist wants to play second fiddle?
> Which CSIRO scientist would stay here if they could work at JPL, NASA,
> CALTECH, et at?
> Get my drift?

I don't believe the analogy is applicable.  A more relevant one might be:
Lots of people donate their time and energy into Computer Angels for free,
but they still go and work for money using the same skills.  Why would they
do this?
 - or -
Which kernel hacker would stay if they were offered a job at Microsoft? :-)
(or even Sun)

> If you are going to become Professionals then surely you need to make a
> clean break without the "hype" that implies you stay?  If you stay for
> "pilferring" purposes (I don't know exactly what I mean here) then it
> becomes a little (I don't know what I mean here either) ....unhelpful to
> colleagues in [PLUG] (is that what I mean?)

Not 'become', already are (or trying to represent ourselves that way).  A
common reason pointed to by business for the slow uptake of Linux is that
professional/commercial support is fractured and sometimes vagrant.  Such a
society is aimed at changing those views by adding commercial stability,
co-operation and cohesion.  The society seeks to pilfer nothing.  The prime
form of overlap that I can see is that the enthusiast may see an opportunity
to get paid for what they like doing (tinkering with or deploying Linux) -
it's a potential avenue for advancement, not a replacement, as it does not
mean 'leaving' PLUG to join SLPWA, but PLUG for the catch-all
everything-Linux and SLPWA if you wish your business to join a society using
Linux as a platform.

If you list the aims, functions and (at least in the case of PLUG) what you
get out of it, you should see that there is little or no overlap.  Feel free
to post such a list if you want feedback or clarification.

Regards,
Brian Tombleson.