Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

[TheCotMan *****Retired ***** Find all posts View Profile Close TheCotMan]

I've checked with Lil_Freak, but have no response in 30 days. In talking to Headrush, things have been complicated lately, and other things are higher priority right now. Out of respect for her and her contributions and hard work she has provided over many years in running the forum meet, we yielded the benefit of time for decisions and I sent Lil_Freak and email on March 21, 2011 to ask about her return to Defcon this year to run the forum meet, and included a comment about lack of response in 30 days would mean I would hand it off to someone else if they were willing. We are now near the 45 day mark since I sent that message without a response. (Lil_Freak: no worries if you are just reading this now, and sorry that I am offering this to others: I hope you understand. :-)

I've asked the mods, but they are all in the same boat as me, and none of us have time to organize this while at Defcon.

Last year, and the year before, Nikita did the awesome thing of helping out with the organization of the Forum meet, providing resources, and helping with the planning and ideas for the forum meet to work. I spoke with her in IM, and she is worried that she will be too busy *at* Defcon to be the primary organizer of the Forum Meet, but acknowledged that she would be interested in providing support for new leadership that might run the forum meet, if they are interested.

Do you have ideas on how to run a forum meet? Have you thought the forum meet could be even better if only [...]? Are you a semi-regular member of the forums or a recent member but active in the forums with an interest in organizing this event at Defcon?

If so, please reply to this thread and announce your interest in running the Forum Meet at Defcon 19.

If more than one person responds with an interest in running the Forum meet, the Forum Mods and Nikita will try to decide. (Nikita would be involved in the decision, because she would be working with the volunteer to help it work out.) We might consider letting a team of people work together to make a forum meet with one person as the primary contact.

If nobody volunteers to run this, I am fine with letting it die.

What matters is you, and how you feel about letting it die. If you want it to live, make it live.

Thanks and good luck,
-Cot

[kallahar Goon Like Object Find all posts View Profile Close kallahar]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

The forums meets are a great way for new people to get to know new people in person. Even better than DC101 (too many people there). Basically it's a chance to chill out and actually make friends with people that you "know" online.

Maybe one of the "new" members would like to step up and organize? Basically we'll get you a room, you just need to be there the whole time, and maybe help coordinate drinks/nametags/etc.

Heck, maybe just meet at one of the rio bar's and bring name badges!

Kallahar

[HighWiz Death Find all posts View Profile Close HighWiz]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

I wouldn't even say 101 is good for meeting *at all*. Nor, is that it's intended purpose either. Kallahar is right, there are way too many people there for that.
Which really makes me hope that someone does pick up the mantle from Lil_Freak and continues the Forum Meet Tradition.

If it was to go back to the old way (shorter time frame, more a "meet up" than a party), I'd be happy to help out. But I wouldn't throw in, if it involves dedicating the entire night to it. (IIRC last year was like 9pm to 2am).

[hexjunkie AKA Cuddles Find all posts View Profile Close hexjunkie]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

I'd take up the reins but unfortunately I'm over booked all evenings at con. Perhaps if the forum meet was in the afternoon on Thursday?

[Chris Great Satan of the East Find all posts View Profile Close Chris]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

I wouldn't even say 101 is good for meeting *at all*. Nor, is that it's intended purpose either. Kallahar is right, there are way too many people there for that.
Which really makes me hope that someone does pick up the mantle from Lil_Freak and continues the Forum Meet Tradition.

If it was to go back to the old way (shorter time frame, more a "meet up" than a party), I'd be happy to help out. But I wouldn't throw in, if it involves dedicating the entire night to it. (IIRC last year was like 9pm to 2am).

I agree on this point. I think the time frame should be 2 hours max. I really want to see the forum meet happen and will absolutely make sure that I attend but am also in the same position as the other responders and can't run it.

[hexjunkie AKA Cuddles Find all posts View Profile Close hexjunkie]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

What is scheduled during con on Thursday ater TBBQ before TheSummit?

[Chris Great Satan of the East Find all posts View Profile Close Chris]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

What is scheduled during con on Thursday ater TBBQ before TheSummit?

The only thing I know of for sure is Goon Band practice (which we open up to * and basically let people get drunk and laugh at us while we fumble through getting the songs together)

[hexjunkie AKA Cuddles Find all posts View Profile Close hexjunkie]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

The only thing I know of for sure is Goon Band practice (which we open up to * and basically let people get drunk and laugh at us while we fumble through getting the songs together)

What better way to meet your forum peoples other than getting lit while listening to the goon band?

So people bring their forum badges and we are set!

All agreed say aye.

Those opposed say nay.

[HighWiz Death Find all posts View Profile Close HighWiz]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

What better way to meet your forum peoples other than getting lit while listening to the goon band?

So people bring their forum badges and we are set!

All agreed say aye.

Those opposed say nay.

That's a nay...

Goon Band Practice starts at.. 9pm? The Summit starts at 8pm?. For those of who stay around the ToxicBBQ to help cleanup, usually don' get back till after 9.

Also, while personally I will be going to GB practice and the actual show, it's not really the type of place that's conducive to having an actual conversation like the forum meet has always been.

The problem isn't with it being on Friday night, just the length of the event. An hour or two hour window, gives most people enough time to pop in and say hello. 9 to 11 gives people more than enough time to stop by after dinner/goon band/crazy sex orgy and before they head to a night of partying.

[kallahar Goon Like Object Find all posts View Profile Close kallahar]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

when's 101 start/end? maybe a quick meetup before or after might work well. I really like the idea of doing it at a bar too, that way it's less intimidating to the socially challenged (me).

Kallahar

[Bbox Old, Confused & Outdated Find all posts View Profile Close Bbox]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

I believe at the very least there should be some sort of meet & greet for forum members so I would be happy to help. I would be glad to help out in anyway needed.

If it's just a matter of manning a room and greeting people and helping with Badges for 2 or 3 hours, I can definitely handle that. If someone has bigger ideas I would be happy to help them put this together.

Can someone share with me what was done in the past?

Thanks

[hexjunkie AKA Cuddles Find all posts View Profile Close hexjunkie]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

Bbox - Nakita and Lil' Freak would be the people you should direct that question at. Perhaps by PM.

The forum meet is pretty much what the host makes of it. Pretty much how everything else works at defcon. The creator has the ability to make the event how they see fit.

HighWiz, is there any time that is mostly free of other events? I'm trying to think and I just can't find any free time other than early morning or mid afternoon around lunch time.

[eris Giving birth to a star Find all posts View Profile Close eris]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

when's 101 start/end? maybe a quick meetup before or after might work well. I really like the idea of doing it at a bar too, that way it's less intimidating to the socially challenged (me).

Kallahar

The problem with this is that it supposes that everyone interested in the forum meet is also old enough to hang at/in a bar in Vegas. Probably not a good bet.

[HighWiz Death Find all posts View Profile Close HighWiz]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

HighWiz, is there any time that is mostly free of other events? I'm trying to think and I just can't find any free time other than early morning or mid afternoon around lunch time.

Nope. The issue always come up when there is *anything* at DefCon. The answer usually is to find a time when it accommodates the most people. At one point (a few years ago?) there was a poll I believe in which the question was asked... Actually, after looking around, the question has come up more than once (in relation to the Forum Meet)

DC15:
https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=8431


DC17:
https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=10422


Historically it's been on Friday night for as long as I remember:

dc14:
https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=7374

dc11:
https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=1903

The problem with this is that it supposes that everyone interested in the forum meet is also old enough to hang at/in a bar in Vegas. Probably not a good bet.

That's a really great point. I know there aren't skyboxes at the Rio, but the atmosphere and general layout of the room last year wasn't all that bad. Kallahar, made a valid point with the socially challenged issue though. Personally either way is fine for me, but I know if I was 19 and couldn't attend the forum meet, I'd be kinda sad.

If it's just a matter of manning a room and greeting people and helping with Badges for 2 or 3 hours, I can definitely handle that. If someone has bigger ideas I would be happy to help them put this together.

Speaking of Badges, I hope everyone will be wearing their avatar badge again this year.

Can someone share with me what was done in the past?

Thanks

Looking at the old Sub-forums/posts should give you a good idea of what has been done in the past. The forum meet has definitely changed over the years (as have the forums).

---------------------------


If people are cool with an hour in some room on Friday night, I will organize it. But, if people are looking for a party or something that goes all during the evening, then I can't dedicate that amount of time while *at* con.

If someone else wants to step up and organize it [even do something entirely different (like a party) with it], then I won't stand in the way at all.

[Bbox Old, Confused & Outdated Find all posts View Profile Close Bbox]

Re: Defcon Forum Meet needs leadership, or the forum meet won't happen...

I have now read many of the past Forum Meet posts and have obtained lots of information. Just to summarize some of the things that came through loud and clear in "MY" interpretation. (not in any particular order of importance)

Don't be a Douche.

Have Rolling Rock beer available.

Attendees best to have laminated Avatar badges (maybe have stick-on generic name badges for those who forget or the losers who do not care enough to put effort into the forum experience)

Understand Nikita's 2010 Drunken policy post on what can and cannot be allowed concerning alcohol.

Have a set location and try to avoid (at almost any cost) the need to relocate the venue at the last moment.

It also seems that as much as people would enjoy a full blown party that would be a lot of fun and also help some overcome their shyness or social interaction obstacles, it may not be a feasible idea for a Forum Meet. Between the timing issues around a very busy existing events schedule and a strong desire for the Forum Meet be a place where active existing forum members can meet, talk and put a face to the words we read throughout the entire year, it would seem a smaller (shorter timeframe) more intimate environment might be best.

An option might be some form of a "Split Event". Since so many of the active forum posters are also active in key Defcon positions or events at Defcon making their time very limited and some people not showing because they feel bad because they would have to leave quickly maybe we can have the first 45 min to an hour geared towards those who actively participate (or at least lurk enough to read this) to show up say hi introduce themselves (share a drink if they so desire) and then feel free to leave or hang around. The next hour or 2 can be the published advertised Forum Meet time that would allow potential new people to become "active" forum members. Some of us could stay the entire time, talk with anyone who shows and maybe get more people to understand that the Defcon experience does not end after the Con, it lives year round online at the Forum.

I think I have been to every Defcon 101 talk and I have always taken great info away from it, but I do not remember hearing much about the forums. Maybe at the Defcon 101 event this year someone can talk about the YEAR-ROUND Defcon Forum and encourage first time attendees to sign up and join us at the Forum Meet.

Sorry about the long winded post, as stated before I see the value of the Forum Meet and am willing to help in any way to make sure it stays at the con.