Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

[snideology]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

Perhaps she thought you were talking about bringing alcohol into your room and not for a party in the convention area?

Heh heh...yeah, so I figured...but I called the Rio in good faith, asking about corkage fees. I was shunted to the Room Service Department, and spoke to someone who claimed a position of responsibility - who put me on hold while she consulted other sources.

Therefore, I had plausible deniability, and a deniability obtained in good faith. If confronted, I would have a date, a name and a department on which to pin the problem.

So y'all kinda killed that for me, thanks. Just for that, I might bring generic beer. Except I wouldn't drink it, so most likely my threat is empty.

$1,200 for a keg? I seriously hope DefCon is getting kickbacks; otherwise I won't touch a drop of their alcohol (another empty threat).

[HighWiz]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

That's insane! So I obviously trust you, and I am 100% on board with not causing trouble, certainly at the very least in our first year here, but...this might be one of those 'ask forgiveness' situations. Crikey, at that price maybe the parties should be off-site, like Toxic. It would be cheaper to rent a damn bus than have one keg! And I'm damned if they will stop me from bringing alcohol to my personal room, which I did not get through Def Con.

Perhaps she thought you were talking about bringing alcohol into your room and not for a party in the convention area?

[snideology]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

Trust me when I tell you that Joanna steered you in the wrong direction. She may have misunderstood you in that there is no prohibition you you bringing personal alcohol of your own in but they would prefer you didn't but I can tell you for an absolute fact that the parties can't provide their own. The Rio is charging the parties between $900 and $1200 for each keg of beer plus the fee to have their bartenders serve it.

That's insane! So I obviously trust you, and I am 100% on board with not causing trouble, certainly at the very least in our first year here, but...this might be one of those 'ask forgiveness' situations. Crikey, at that price maybe the parties should be off-site, like Toxic. It would be cheaper to rent a damn bus than have one keg! And I'm damned if they will stop me from bringing alcohol to my personal room, which I did not get through Def Con.

.

Not only am I certified in CPR but I am pretty good with a knife and can open a chest and massage a heart to keep it pumping until help arrives if necessary!

O thank goodness; a relaxing massage will be just about perfect then....help circulate the alcohol.

[Bbox]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

Does anyone here know CPR?

You're in luck, I will be at the Forum Meet the entire time, Not only am I certified in CPR but I am pretty good with a knife and can open a chest and massage a heart to keep it pumping until help arrives if necessary!

Now if I could only get an official Time, day and location of the event to post for others to see, I would really be of some value.

[Chris]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

In February I called the Rio's Room Service Department & talked with Joanna, a person apparently in some role of responsibility; she indicated the Rio prefers we do not bring in outside alcohol, but that there is no prohibition of it and that there is absolutely no corkage fee. The underage issue is still there of course. Last year I was present (and partially party to) when a fellow brought in a keg to a skybox. Apparently Nikita was there (I did not know who she was), and brought up just the issues you raised. I must say, I was genuinely impressed with her handling of it; she was clearly rather overworked at that point, and could have just pushed the law, as it were, yet she was quite willing to explain....and even listen. Gotta love DC, man.



So as most of you have probably figured out, I am unfortunately NOT a lurker, and one never knows what foolishness shall spout forth from my brain. Yet even I as a non-lurker have those same concerns; fitting in cannot be said to be my life's specialty. I wasn't able to make it to last year's meet (I think I didn't know about it until too late?), but look forward to meeting y'all (a word legally allowed to be used in the deep south) there.

I do plan on bringing alcohol, possibly a keg if the Toxic leaves me any left, but this year, I understand why bringing a keg into a party that already has alcohol might be remiss, and what I bring, I shall assume full responsibility for. Or if not, I'll just drink it all myself. Does anyone here know CPR?

Trust me when I tell you that Joanna steered you in the wrong direction. She may have misunderstood you in that there is no prohibition you you bringing personal alcohol of your own in but they would prefer you didn't but I can tell you for an absolute fact that the parties can't provide their own. The Rio is charging the parties between $900 and $1200 for each keg of beer plus the fee to have their bartenders serve it.

[snideology]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

This is the Rio, so the micro-feature diffs and rule-set will likely be different

In February I called the Rio's Room Service Department & talked with Joanna, a person apparently in some role of responsibility; she indicated the Rio prefers we do not bring in outside alcohol, but that there is no prohibition of it and that there is absolutely no corkage fee. The underage issue is still there of course. Last year I was present (and partially party to) when a fellow brought in a keg to a skybox. Apparently Nikita was there (I did not know who she was), and brought up just the issues you raised. I must say, I was genuinely impressed with her handling of it; she was clearly rather overworked at that point, and could have just pushed the law, as it were, yet she was quite willing to explain....and even listen. Gotta love DC, man.

Firstly I’d like to say that I lurk and as a lurker I was a little worried that I wouldn’t fit in

So as most of you have probably figured out, I am unfortunately NOT a lurker, and one never knows what foolishness shall spout forth from my brain. Yet even I as a non-lurker have those same concerns; fitting in cannot be said to be my life's specialty. I wasn't able to make it to last year's meet (I think I didn't know about it until too late?), but look forward to meeting y'all (a word legally allowed to be used in the deep south) there.

I do plan on bringing alcohol, possibly a keg if the Toxic leaves me any left, but this year, I understand why bringing a keg into a party that already has alcohol might be remiss, and what I bring, I shall assume full responsibility for. Or if not, I'll just drink it all myself. Does anyone here know CPR?

[HighWiz]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

I know there was a Forum Avatar Badge template people could use to create a Forum Badge a few years back, Can someone tell me if it was Con specific or if people like using the same one year to year?

Also anyone have the template and know the best way to distribute it?

I've seen both Yearly Specific Badge and just the same badge every year. Most people do the later, as you have it once and it's done.

http://defcon.stotan.org/faq/avatar.htm

[Bbox]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

That's not going to happen. BYOB will probably end up being acceptable, but essentially sanctioning underage drinking is not going to happen.

Chris, Thanks for pointing that out.

First Rule is we do nothing that can create a problem for Defcon and underage drinking is not acceptable at any Defcon sanctioned events.

Second Defcon offers tons of opportunities for drinking and partying there is no need to have the Forum Meet try and fill that role.

My intent for this year's Forum Meet is to make this event more of a "Mingle" fairly short amount of time, casual easy going atmosphere, no loud music or flashing lights. A place conducive to just talking and good conversations. Almost Like:

The Defcon Forum Mingle a non destination event, a place to meet your online friends face to face and then go explore all that Defcon in Vegas has to offer.

I believe it should be a place for people to stop by and see people they know from online, an opportunity for new attendees to see that Defcon continues year round online and a place they can come and ask questions and hopefully meet others that they can then leave the Forum Meet with and attend other Defcon Events, Parties or any common interests that they may desire to explore.

[Chris]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

3) Liquid encouragement is a must! Hopefully Nikita can give the Rio staff the good ol' jedi wave and let us have some booze in the room without carding poeple (here's hoping!)

That's not going to happen. BYOB will probably end up being acceptable, but essentially sanctioning underage drinking is not going to happen.

[Bbox]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

DXt3я,

Thanks for the input.

At present I am awaiting some answers from the powers to be. As soon as time, location and some rules are clarified I will post more info and let people know what help we can use.

I know there was a Forum Avatar Badge template people could use to create a Forum Badge a few years back, Can someone tell me if it was Con specific or if people like using the same one year to year?

Also anyone have the template and know the best way to distribute it?

Thanks!
P.S. Remember to follow us on twitter at DefconForumMeet hashtag #DFM19

[DXt3я]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

BBox, big thanks! Last year was an improvement, but this year could be perfection.

Some thoughts and ramblings based on suggestions in this thread and years of past attendance:

1) Lurkers will lurk, so let them. At one time or another i think all of us were lurkers. Socializing with other folks at this event and others like it help people come out of their shell.

2) Button/Tag idea is kinda nifty. Maybe it can be as simple as red- go away, green-talk to me. Let me know how i can help with this.

3) Liquid encouragement is a must! Hopefully Nikita can give the Rio staff the good ol' jedi wave and let us have some booze in the room without carding poeple (here's hoping!)

4) Game's are great ice breakers! I am not a party planning type, but i think it is safe to say everyone likes to be a little competitive and play games.

I'm looking forward taking part in the meet this year!

[TheCotMan]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

(Mods, can the "open noob social" stuff be popped out into another thread?)

New thread in "New Ideas" forum: Meeting/Event for people new to Defcon (?)

[BonzoESC]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

If it wasn't for the ToxicBBQ, we would totally try that. Usually how it happens is: Right after dc101, GM1, Runnerup and I jump in the car and go on the food run for the ToxicBBQ and try to be at the park before everyone else get's there.

So yea, an "Open n00b Social", has been discussed before and is a very good idea. It's just about finding the actual time to do it.

I think somebody will have to take one for the team to host an "open noob social" type thing; having it off-site at the Toxic BBQ sucks for anybody without wheels.

(Mods, can the "open noob social" stuff be popped out into another thread?)

[HighWiz]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

Well, we are talking about the Forums Meet. If people make the meet, then they should know who to [blame|praise] for their experiences on the forums.

Blame you for all the failures, praise me for my awesomeness.. I like they way you think.

At risk of embarrassing him, I'll jump on this bandwagon too. TheCotMan is hands down the best forum admin I've seen at any forum I've been a part of. I honestly believe that anyone that actually enjoys the forums should take the time to thank him at DEF CON and buy him his choice of beverage.

I totally agree. To sum it up: TheCotMan is awesome.

I would love to bounce ideas off of HighWiz and get his suggestions.

(HighWiz can I send it your way eventually?)

Any questions/idea's/comments/concerns.. I can be contact here on the forums or email: highwiz {at} gayhackersYOURPANTS {dot} org (just make sure to remove yourpants before sending).

I always thought it would be great to have a get together directly after DC101, however I understand timing issues with other events make that difficult.

If it wasn't for the ToxicBBQ, we would totally try that. Usually how it happens is: Right after dc101, GM1, Runnerup and I jump in the car and go on the food run for the ToxicBBQ and try to be at the park before everyone else get's there.

So yea, an "Open n00b Social", has been discussed before and is a very good idea. It's just about finding the actual time to do it.

[Bbox]

Re: Forum Meet organizer selected: BBox

That is what I prefer to do. if it was possible for me to work and contribute without a visible presence, I would do that. :-)

I guess since you like your anonymity, My where's TheCotMan contest. (Finding you all over Defcon and getting pictures with you) is out.

Have you been to the DC1o1 event HighWiz has organized? He would be another good person to talk to about ideas expressed in DC101 and will probably have good ideas on how you might be able to encourage behavior described at DC101 for lurkers and people new to Defcon. It is probably a bad idea to duplicate the purpose of DC101, but *implementing* changes to address the issues described at DC101 could lead to desirable results for new members and lurkers.

I believe I have been to every DC101 there has been. I have suggested to many people (newbies & experienced attendees) they should attend. The message I ALWAYS heard loud and clear is get involved, you get out of Defcon what you put in. This has been super true for me. I went from just attending talks my first year, to spending entire days involved with specific events as the years went on. I have met great people over the years that I would have never met just quietly attending the talks.

I would love to bounce ideas off of HighWiz and get his suggestions.

I do not want to duplicate any of their (DC101) efforts, however I sometimes found that after the DC101 event I needed some clarification on things that were said that I may not of fully understood. I never really had anyone I felt comfortable asking a potentially silly question. I would like to give newbies an opportunity to swing by the Forum Meet and feel comfortable to ask questions of someone that has been to the Con before. I personally will be happy to talk with anyone and answer questions if I can, for as long as it takes. I always thought it would be great to have a get together directly after DC101, however I understand timing issues with other events make that dificult.

Have you discussed this with Nikita to find out what resources might be available for the forum meet from the Rio and Defcon?

I am in the process of finding out what is available time wise, space wise and as much other info as possible.

BBox, what kinds of things are you considering for the Forum meet? Do you have ideas for games or reasons for people to stick around at the forum meet and socialize? Ways to encourage people that are lurkers to introduce themselves and participate with others in conversations?

I have been speaking via online to lots of people and I had the privilege of speaking to many people associated with Defcon at an absolutely incredible LayerOne event in LA this past weekend.

(I met Syntax Error because he was wearing his Forum Avatar Badge - He Rocks)

I heard lots of different points of views, embarrassingly enough I could even be found asking/begging & cajoling support for the forum meet from the more experienced con goers and talking up the forums and inviting newbies to swing by.

I know I was given 2 ears and only one mouth because I am supposed to listen more than talk, and what I keep hearing is it should be fairly short, 2-3 hours max, casual easy going atmosphere, no loud music or flashing lights. A place conducive to just talking and good conversations. More of a Forum Mingle.

I do imagine having a time for introductions for ALL those who do desire to participate in introducing themselves, some form of break the ice for newbies and I would like to have seating set up for both an area where everyone that walks in can be part of the "scene" as well as some separate groupings for some of the not as willing to be in the fray forum Members who may desire a bit more anonymity.

I have some Ideas for some Ice breakers / entertaining conversation makers but I am not ready to say it publicly yet and am not sure if I should give it away before the event. I am still checking on some stuff and then in private want to run it by Nikita, TheCotMan and all his team and a few other valued advisors.

(HighWiz can I send it your way eventually?)

I want to get the specific date and time set as soon as possible so we can start promoting the event sooner than later. I appreciate all the input and help and welcome the thoughts and ideas.

Thanks,
Bbox