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Re: How would you make Defcon 21 better?
totally respectful of HighWiz, who has more con knowledge and experience than i could hope to (and he's way sexier, but that counts for less in planning discussions) but i appreciate this difference of opinion and cling steadfast to my belief that there are too many talks.
for me, it's an "energy" thing. having so many talks spreads the group out so much that there are fewer "watercooler" moments later on (maybe we would call them "keg" moments or "sitting on a couch rolling on E moments") where someone speaks up and says "awe, man... i saw [such and such talk] and it was fucking amazing!"
a moment like that makes the con better, in my view, if a few other people hanging out in that same circle of folk chime in and say "oh yeah, i saw that, too! it was [insert agreement or disagreement here]"
there's also two more points that aren't socially-focused, but rather they are knowledge-focused...
1. if someone is at the con to learn, this above all else, then five tracks will almost certainly make them feel like they are missing out. i'm not saying that's a fair opinion for a con-goer to have... but it does open people up to creating disappointment for themselves.
2. talk quality. this is a whole other thread unto itself. and i'll never call people out or name names, but from what feedback i get from most other friends at DEFCON, there is a strong feeling of "the talks are just so-so a lot of the time" or "yeah, it was kinda alright, but we walked out" *
* SUPER IMPORTANT CAVEAT - i am too busy to attend many talks. almost all of my evidence is hearsay, and i recognize that fact. still, it is undeniable that if there were fewer talk slots then by definition the CFP process would filter out even more chaff from the wheat and leave people with the cream of the crop (wishing i could mix in one more analogy)
this would also make the CFP process a lot harder, but of course we can go round and round on that one, too. i've volunteered to help and would welcome the opportunity, eventhough i doubt the process will ever take the form that i would idealize in my own head (people having to submit full slides with their CFP, possibly even submitting some kind of evidence of their ability as public speakers)
So, for a variety of reasons, i remain committed in my belief that 4 tracks would be more than enough. My reasons are multiple and manifold.
Now when are you and your sweetie-pie going to come down into the city for a drink with us one of these days, brother?
totally respectful of HighWiz, who has more con knowledge and experience than i could hope to (and he's way sexier, but that counts for less in planning discussions) but i appreciate this difference of opinion and cling steadfast to my belief that there are too many talks.
for me, it's an "energy" thing. having so many talks spreads the group out so much that there are fewer "watercooler" moments later on (maybe we would call them "keg" moments or "sitting on a couch rolling on E moments") where someone speaks up and says "awe, man... i saw [such and such talk] and it was fucking amazing!"
a moment like that makes the con better, in my view, if a few other people hanging out in that same circle of folk chime in and say "oh yeah, i saw that, too! it was [insert agreement or disagreement here]"
there's also two more points that aren't socially-focused, but rather they are knowledge-focused...
1. if someone is at the con to learn, this above all else, then five tracks will almost certainly make them feel like they are missing out. i'm not saying that's a fair opinion for a con-goer to have... but it does open people up to creating disappointment for themselves.
2. talk quality. this is a whole other thread unto itself. and i'll never call people out or name names, but from what feedback i get from most other friends at DEFCON, there is a strong feeling of "the talks are just so-so a lot of the time" or "yeah, it was kinda alright, but we walked out" *
* SUPER IMPORTANT CAVEAT - i am too busy to attend many talks. almost all of my evidence is hearsay, and i recognize that fact. still, it is undeniable that if there were fewer talk slots then by definition the CFP process would filter out even more chaff from the wheat and leave people with the cream of the crop (wishing i could mix in one more analogy)
this would also make the CFP process a lot harder, but of course we can go round and round on that one, too. i've volunteered to help and would welcome the opportunity, eventhough i doubt the process will ever take the form that i would idealize in my own head (people having to submit full slides with their CFP, possibly even submitting some kind of evidence of their ability as public speakers)
So, for a variety of reasons, i remain committed in my belief that 4 tracks would be more than enough. My reasons are multiple and manifold.
Now when are you and your sweetie-pie going to come down into the city for a drink with us one of these days, brother?
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