This sounds like a great idea.  While my local Ruby group is only about 
50+ miles away, due to transportation issues it may as well be on the 
other side of the globe.  So.... I would love to join a Virtual Ruby 
Group.

As for chatting - Skype is nice (I've used it before) as are a few 
other programs.  What we would really need to have large group 
voice-chats is a system where a moderator can "give someone the floor" 
and generally coordinate who speaks when.  Otherwise it will degenerate 
into an incomprehensible babble.  As an example, Apple's newest iChat 
AV software (coming out in OS X 10.4 "Tiger") has the capability to 
host 10-way voice chats or 4-way video chats, with a setup similar to 
the one I just described.

Also, addressing those who are brining up the issue of fragmentation:
As long as we don't go too far afield I see no problem with this group. 
  While the general list is a great place to discuss and ask questions, 
it is often useful to form a more permanent relationship with a 
specific group.  This, of course, does not preclude the use of the 
normal mailing list, rather it just acts as a supplement to it.

-Shalev



On Feb 17, 2005, at 6:59 PM, Zach Dennis wrote:

> Ok, I have a question for fellow rubyists, rubyiers, etc... There seem 
> to be alot of people in their area that are the *only* publicly 
> announcing ruby programmers. (I'm sure there are others, but they may 
> be afraid of getting maulled by the local perl mongers or python 
> lovers group...or in my case the .NET cultists).
>
> If this sounds appealling to other people perhaps we could set up a 
> virtual ruby group. Setup microphone/webcam/instant messenger/irc 
> channel, etc.. to do a meeting over the wire.
>
> This way we could still join on doing ruby projects together, meeting 
> to go over all the cool stuff we find out, or are doing and can help 
> people interested in ruby. Heck no one has to leave their own 
> bedroom/office/basement/garage/coffee house/etc... Just plug in and 
> we're there!
>
> Does this sound appealing to people? If so, please respond to this 
> thread...If enough people are interested we can start an actual ML for 
> that type of thing.
>
> Heck, our first project could be writing an mini-ERP system for our 
> virtual users group, which would host the virtual meetings on some 
> corporate T1(s)!
>
> Zach
>