In article <20240712192936.90fca5cb69d59b41b7df9bf7@g{oogle}mail.com>,
Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> wrote:

The value of a local user group is in proporation to the frequency and attendance of real-worldly, humane, off-line meetings that its members
can and will afford.

The advantage is that conversations that involved a series of QandA + suggestions and demos can be done adaptively real-time to do what may take
days by some other means. Particularly when a 'learner' is puzzled by each
step and its initial 'explanation'. The 'teacher' can also spot what the 'learner' has done wrong as they do it - without the learner saying what
they *actually* did.

Doing that via a video-call of some kind may avoid people moving their bum
off their usual seat, but may still miss things that 'being there' shows immediately.

So it depends on the nature of what is being dealt with, and how those
involved proceed. And, indeed, their personal preferences wrt how best to communicate or work with others.

Global internet-based communities seem superrior in all other aspects.

In many respects, yes. But this need not be an "either/or" situation. Face-to-face meetings can be used by the same people who use usenet, etc.

For example, I can read and even post in this uk.* group from Russia.
Is it good or bad? Do I compromise this group by diluting its British atmosphere?

No idea why you assume that question is relevant. If your point is that long-distance comm is often more convenient than travel, I'd agree. But discussing something over a cup of tea can sometimes get a lot done quickly
and easily. Circumstances alter cases.

Personally, I'd also add from experience in the 'ed biz' that when trying
to help someone to learn some things, being able to stand beside them as
they try makes it much quicker and easier to see mistakes and why they happened. Thus helps with explaining things. Amongst other things I used to
run teaching labs for undergrads. Also built webpages of explanations of similar content, used usenet, etc.

YMMV. :-)

Jim

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