Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

[tardissauce]

I know some folks aren't into that social-media-location-aware-tell-people-where-I-am thing, but there are those of us that are addicted. I think its the whole getting the "gold star" for drinking too much that wins us over. Therefore I think Defcon (and HOPE in NYC) needs its own or maybe a few badges! Clarification, I'm talking about the little icons you get added to your user profile when you unlock an activity in the foursquare application, not the actual "defcon" badges.

Anyone want to help me think of some ideas? I'm shit at ideas, but good at execution so that's why I'm reaching out. Figured some of the more witty of us, can come up with some waaay killer ideas. Guidelines would be scenarios, the Foursquare folks like scenarios. For example (taken from the foursquare site):

"...foursquare badges are awarded for doing certain things (staying out past 3am on a school night) or going certain places (bars known for margaritas or dance parties). They can be awarded for certain habits (going to the same place over and over), for finding secret places (taco trucks, secret bars), or for visiting stereotypical venues (frat boys / socialite hangouts, tourist traps), etc."

...or maybe I'm just the only total nerd who cares about Foursquare! hahah.

[CP99]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

/removed by author

[tardissauce]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

/removed by author

I know, I swore I would never use it. I hate that I like it!

I went to defcon last year, i desperately missed it when it was over and I can only stare at my real badge so long before I want something more from the relationship. ;)

[Thorn]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

Wow. Just wow. I'm amazed that anyone connected with DC or HOPE (or otherwise cares about privacy) would voluntarily put tracking on their phone. It's bad enough that 911 triggers a location in emergencies. I'd go without a phone before I'd let it track me all the time and broadcast it to the world.

Of course, it could be just me. Half the time, I don't tell anyone where I am.

Have you read this thread? https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=11102

[sintax_error]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

GPS or AGPS location awareness does have uses that can be beneficial. Shit like Foursquare certainly not being one of them. I keep GPS location mapping, with emails being sent out with my location periodically when on long trips, or other occasions that my loved ones might become concerned about my whereabouts. That is about the extent of broadcasting one's location that is remotely acceptable. Internal (non-broadcast) GPS tracking can be useful in other situations, but that will certainly veer me way off topic.

[tardissauce]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

I also know that us social media folks (its part of my job - I can't avoid it). I do technology education at my job. It's one of the reason I go to defcon. I need to make sure I curb that oversharing tendency and stay as 'private' as I can while still participating. I however am pretty careful about who I choose to show that information to: only friend people you "really" know (I know even that's not failsafe), don't post that stuff in your twitter for the world to see (I dont push my foursquare info out to twitter or FB or any other feed). Only if I feel its important, sometimes I wanna share that I'm at a particular show (leatherface @ the knitting factory for instance), I might actually meet people, I may not have met otherwise. I have about 10 whole friends on foursquare and I actually know each and every one of them. You can lock-it-down to some degree.

I will say there are those of us, and we know who we are, who are totally into foursquare. If you are one of those people, let me know if you have any ideas. Me and you can be the two people with a "panel nerd" badge.

You can also travel the world at "lightning speed" when "cheating" at foursquare: http://carnal0wnage.attackresearch.com/node/407.

Foursquare also seems to have tried to explain, what and how much information you are sharing as of March 2010: http://foursquare.com/legal/privacy
**so I do my best to make sure stuff like "not showing up on public feeds" is enabled or turned off. "who's here" etc.

[Thorn]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

...
I also know that us social media folks (its part of my job - I can't avoid it) are just "sharers" to a fault.

...

Like that Israeli soldier? After sharing a battle plan via Facebook, the only thing he's sharing now is a cell in the stockade.



Good luck with your idea. It might make an interesting mod/hack to the DC badge, but I'd think that a lot of DefCon attendees might be uncomfortable with building this kind of function into the basic hardware of the badge.

[tardissauce]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

Like that Israeli soldier? After sharing a battle plan via Facebook, the only thing he's sharing now is a cell in the stockade.

Good luck with your idea. It might make an interesting mod/hack to the DC badge, but I'd think that a lot of DefCon attendees might be uncomfortable with building this kind of function into the basic hardware of the badge.

Battleplans, why would anyone share that in such a public way? Let alone on FB? Yikes is right! It is very true that people do not realize how much they share, and how public so many things really are. Probably why foursquare updated their privacy statement (as recent as this month). Now they have explict instructions that say exactly how much your opening yourself up, if you share with other apps and people outside your "friends".

Yeah I don't think it would be appropriate to put it in the badge by default either. After reading this thread I decided to clarify that I am only talking about "icons" you get in the app, and not the actual Defcon Badges as there was some confusion. Might be interesting to think of some other ways to utilize the concept. HOPE did RFID tracking at the last hope, that gave metadata (what talks people attended etc), yet allowed privacy. As a metdata specialist I was in love with that project.

Its very true after HOPE and DC it's hard to wanna share anything, makes me wanna chuck my cellphone out the window most times! However I'm one of those that believe in the value of shared information etc. It's great for a metadata nut like myself and it's why I do digital strategy and social media work.

Appreciate the support, Thorn, hopefully there will be a few of us out there that have the app that wanna get a little badge or two from defcon added to their profiles in foursquare. They can always DM me to save themselves any embarrassing public admittances! hahah.

[tardissauce]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

PS. I just re-read this whole thread and realized that, "badges" in this context can mean two things, I'm easily excitable and leave off important clarifying details! :::facepalm:::

I edited my first post to clarify, that I'm talking about the "icons" in foursquare that users unlock and are added to their profiles within the foursquare app, not the defcon "badges". In foursquare those little icons are called "badges" too.

So in essence I'm just asking if those us who use foursquare who are going to defcon want to help design and concept the "icon" that we can unlock, when we attend different activities (out past our bedtimes etc). ;)

[erehwon]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

Interesting the Foursquare makes it extremely easy to point out that you're not at home, so some % of Defcon attendees are out of town, making that much easier for the local criminal element both in their hometowns and in Las Vegas to figure, well, Tardissauce is at the The Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill getting completely blotto at an industry event, its probably a good bet s/he's a good mark to clean out their hotel room, and their house, as they have marked all those locations down in the last few hours/days.

[theprez98]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

I tried Foursquare for a while, but I wasn't satisfied with its Privacy settings and no longer use it. Besides, being the Mayor of your local Wal Mart Supercenter isn't as fulfilling as it might seem.

[shrdlu]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

...So in essence I'm just asking if those us who use foursquare who are going to defcon want to help design and concept the "icon" that we can unlock, when we attend different activities (out past our bedtimes etc). ;)

Congratulations. This is the very first time anyone has said anything that made me miss that cesspool otherwise known as the Alexis Park (yes, yes, I know others loved it, but I did not).

Fortunately, I will not be there while this incredibly goofy idea is tested out, and I'd guess that the whole idea will have blown over by DC19 (which I have some vague change of attending, as paired primes are a strange attractor for me).

Truthfully, if I thought you were even nearby, and attempting to engage me (or someone near me) in conversation, and considering what a strong hostility I have for cameras, microphones, and other invasions of privacy, this would be a required pool toss. Yep. I love the interaction of water, chlorine, and electronics.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Yes, I'm still drinking coffee.

[tardissauce]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

@erehwon - you are able to lock-down and not allow anyone other than your x friends to see your updates or where you are. Like I said earlier, I don't push out that data to any other social networking site (twitter, FB, etc). You can, but I don't. The only people that see it are people that actually I know and have decided to share that information with.

@shrdlu - this is not a suggestion for the defcon badges (which would be pointless, yes silly, idea), the badges I'm talking about are graphical icons that are part of a social app that has "badges" that you unlock with use. Ideas for badges/icons can be contributed to the developers for particular events. They had about 15 different ones for the SxSW conference. So its not really a test, but just participation in a social media application, that many people are using. Only people who use foursquare would even know it existed, be involved, affected or even care. The app does not say things like "tardissauce" is standing near "shrdlu" talking about a very silly idea or anything. I hear ya though, foursquare is silly, but thats kinda what makes it fun.

@theprez98 - having mayorship battles over your favorite bar is kinda fun though. Foursquare has given users more control over those settings (which is why I was finally convinced to try it) and now the only people that see where i've been, where i am etc are my 'friends". I also don't show up on the "who's here" list. I will say i resisted using foursquare for a long time, but I had to start because it's part of my job to use social media at my organization, so we have to be the most knowledgeable in its use to help our user base.

Overall, it was just a suggestion, not a very good one it seems. I can't always come up with gems. Feel free to tease and give me nuggies, I can take it.

[theprez98]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

@theprez98 - having mayorship battles over your favorite bar is kinda fun though. Foursquare has given users more control over those settings (which is why I was

It could be, but very few of the people I know actually use it. So two visits to basically anywhere, and I was mayor of half of central Maryland. So it got old real fast.

[erehwon]

Re: Foursquare Defcon badge(s)

@erehwon - you are able to lock-down and not allow anyone other than your x friends to see your updates or where you are. Like I said earlier, I don't push out that data to any other social networking site (twitter, FB, etc). You can, but I don't. The only people that see it are people that actually I know and have decided to share that information with.

I don't have Foursquare, but I'm guessing most people I've run into don't know or are totally unaware of locking-down accounts. Mind you there are enough people out there that just don't care to keep others from peeking in. While I keep a Twitter account, but I'm not using the locational services that Twitter and other add-ons always seem to force on me.