evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch) (03/28/89)
** Unix Unanimous and /usr/group/cdn - an opinion ** At Uniforum last month, the executive of /usr/group held a press conference. Among a number of things discussed was the fact that it was considering changing the group's name to Uniforum, having conceded that it was indeed a group of Unix vendors and not users. There were certainly some end-users, largely those members interested in getting copies of Communixations and the annual product directory. But the primary focus of the group was, and still continues to be, the 'selling of Unix' - generically, and in the products of its members. Its could easily argued that /usr/group/cdn has closely echoed the goals of its US associate, in that it has acted as a trade association rather than a user group. Its main initiative, arguably its only one this year outside of the trade show, has been the DMR survey - one that has no value to users who have already committed, but offers plenty to vendors who need all the ammunition they can muster to sell the world on Unix. Indeed, the only piece of actual Canada Post I've received from the group in recent memory - besides dues renewal - was a solicitation, on /usr/group/cdn stationery I'd never seen before, for me to plunk down $12.5K for the survey. Since an original briefing, what have /usr/group/cdn members received from the DMR group? Nothing. A slickly-prepared, 24-page summary of the study was given to anyone who asked for it at Uniforum. That summary has not yet been sent to /usr/group/cdn members, those of us whose membership helped provide a focal point for the DMR study in the first place. Selling Unix need not, indeed should not, be the purpose of a users' organization. Users have already been sold. Based on the other computer user groups I've belonged to, user group goals are quite different from the goals of trade associations. The users' goal is to make sure they get the most out of what they have - how to make wise Unix-related decisions, get help when vendors fail, share software and advice, and anticipate and plan for future trends and opportunities. Sometimes, these functions are at odds with what vendors want. In recognition that user concerns can conflict with vendor concerns, the user groups I know of have specific prohibitions against corporate memberships and corporate participation on their boards. While corporate participation in user groups is encouraged, it usually takes the form of sponsorship or newsletter advertising. The only /usr/group/cdn functions to date which address the concerns of users - Communixations and the Unix product directory - have been badly managed. I haven't seen a copy of Communixations since August and I'm told by /usr/group that /usr/group/cdn has not yet even placed its order for the directories. The group, despite its corporate memberships and resources, does not yet think itself worthy of a full time administrator. But that didn't stop the DMR solicitations from going on schedule, did it? That /usr/group/cdn has been unable to make itself a truly national organization is further evidence of this gap in purpose. While vendors of Unix are almost exclusively based around Toronto, users are spread across the country. Those groups which have already started in other cities have generally spurned advances by /usr/group/cdn to merge, or indeed share anything but newsletter exchanges. That is because, in my view, they saw /usr/group/cdn as a trade association long ago, and realized their groups had little common purpose with it. It was out of this perceived lack of concern for users in Toronto itself that Unix Unanimous was created, originally as a special-interest subgroup of the vendor organization. It was fortunate that /usr/group/cdn had members such as Peter and George, to set the group up and establish a regular time, place and format (sic). However, judging from the rapidly-growing support for UU, I would venture to say that had /usr/group/cdn not created the group by now, it would have come about by other means. Unix Unanimous is a user group in the classic sense. It has a newsletter - via e-mail and Usenet - where /usr/group/cdn has not been able to provide a more-conventional vehicle despite its substantially greater resources. UU people discuss matters which are important in the day-to-day running of our Unix systems. Those who can help, mix freely with those who need help, in an atmosphere without condescention or embarrasment. Yes, there are many who attend UU meetings who could be considered 'vendors'. They are employees of large hardware or software firms, or are part of small consulting firms, which have something to sell to the Unix community. I am among this group. But those who come to UU meetings come for personal reasons, to teach, learn and share. We are also in a shrinking minority, as it should be, as the genuine users come to outnumber us. I find UU a warm, refreshingly informal place to welcome someone new to Unix. Like an issue of Byte in the days when it was good, few are interested in absolutely everything that's discussed at a UU meeting. But those parts that are interesting are worth the rest of it. By contrast, the present /usr/group/cdn meetings offer the brand-new Unix user little of substance, outside of sales pitches and what seems to be referred to these days as 'administrivia'. In my experience, Unix Unanimous meetings are attended by individuals who make friends. /usr/group/cdn meetings are attended by "representatives" who make contacts. Most people I know are far more comfortable at either one or the other. The two groups have no common ground anymore. The people who attend both, outside of /usr/group/cdn board members, do so to keep in touch with each other better, rather than out of a great interest for the monthly sales presentation. If the bunch of us merely assembled in the Louisiana Purchase for the whole evening, not much would be missed. Conversely, it is likely that the majority of /usr/group/cdn board members would neither be aware nor care about what goes on at UU meetings. What does this mean? That any ties which continue to exist between UU and /usr/group/cdn serve no real purpose outside of cosmetics. The u/g/c board members who attend UU meetings have suggested that UU could tap the vendor group's resources. But to date, no such initiatives have developed. Unix Unanimous can hardly be described as a 'feature' of /usr/group/cdn, since membership is not required to attend. The question being constantly put to /usr/group/cdn is 'what have you done for me lately?'. The answer is often 'if you have an idea, submit it and we may consider it'. That is unacceptable, considering that /usr/group/cdn's board is supposed to provide some amount of leadership, and that it cannot deliver even the minimal basic services it now promises. Dave, Peter and Dan are capable, articulate and hard-working people. If their collective time on the board has not made the group more responsive to end users, it is highly doubtful that there are others in our midst who could achieve that goal within /usr/group/cdn's current framework. The ability of /usr/group/cdn to respond so well to the needs of vendors (re: DMR) while it lapses on its services to users, has convinced me personally that /usr/group/cdn has lost its usefulness. If the status quo does not change between now and dues time, I will not be renewing my membership. I will, however, work to keep Unix Unanimous not only relevant to the needs of both novice and expert Unix users, but ensure that it stays as vibrant as it now is. (As a start, I offer my time to try and get more speakers to UU of the calibre of Jim Joyce. Toronto has enough Unix 'celebrities', and people passing through like Joyce, to make the task worthwhile. I can't see most /usr/group/cdn people showing an interest in, say, a detailed description of Cnews by its creators. I think most UU attendees would love it.) There are many possible directions to take, which I hope to discuss over the coming months. There is much that still needs to be done. But before proceeding further, we must clearly recognize that /usr/group/cdn is a vendor group, that Unix Unanimous is a user group, and that the two have different goals and functions. A clean break is necessary. - Evan Leibovitch evan@telly.on.ca This opinion is not necessarily shared by any other person or organization. I speak only for myself.