(arstechnica.com)
But to my dismay, many young technically-inclined whippersnappers are completely unaware of computer user groups’ existence and their importance in the personal computer’s development. That’s a damned shame. Our current reality may largely be isolated to screens, but these organizations helped countless enthusiasts find community because of them. Computer groups celebrated the industry’s fundamental values: a delight in technology’s capabilities, a willingness to share knowledge, and a tacit understanding that we’re all here to help one another.
And gosh, they were fun
I used to be in some of these groups and it was a great learning experience to meet people in person and share my and other's expertise. I don't see the internet can completely replace the tight knit communities that are created from in person meetups since it's so different concept.
This is a great read on the history of computer user groups and it's golden age, which those who remember was fun places to be back in the day.