parents

[jesse]

This just in: Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff confirm that parents still just don't understand.

[enCode]

Show them your'e responsible
BY ANY MEANS NESSASERY. :D

[oz0ne]

Solution

Tell your dad to come along.....
It may not be cool, but you might be able to convince him to go "sight seeing" while you hang at AP.
It may work if you can convince him to leave mom at home...It's a male bonding thing ;-)

[astcell]

I wonder, is there another time you left for a few days or for a great distance? How did that go? Maybe your parents do not want to say yes because the last time they said yes you screwed the pooch.

And if they have never said yes, use the above example, that they will have license to rag on you forever if you let them down.

[enCode]

Contrary to what i said before. you could show them you're mature enough to handle yourself.

[phobal]

Your parents sound overprotective but then again maybe they just don't think you are sufficiently emotionally mature to handle an excursion outside of your state. It's up to you to convince them otherwise.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEN.

[subversive]

I will be turning 18 next year and I want to go to defcon this year really bad but my parents wont let me go to Las Vegas because they say "people die there". I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how I can convince them to let me go?

Your parents sound overprotective but then again maybe they just don't think you are sufficiently emotionally mature to handle an excursion outside of your state. It's up to you to convince them otherwise.

[phobal]

[QUOTE=enCode]

I will be turning 18 next year and I want to go to defcon this year really bad but my parents wont let me go to Las Vegas because they say "people die there". /QUOTE]

tell them "People die everywhere, you only live once. Now get your shit and hop in the car." :D

AAAAAAAAAAAAAMEN.

[enCode]

[QUOTE=3lM0]I will be turning 18 next year and I want to go to defcon this year really bad but my parents wont let me go to Las Vegas because they say "people die there". /QUOTE]

tell them "People die everywhere, you only live once. Now get your shit and hop in the car." :D

[zero]

After reading all the posts on this...

back to the original question and some of the answers -

Bring family to vegas? Good idea. There's lots to do. Even better talk Dad (if he's into computers) to come to the con during the daytime on Friday. It's before everyone gets really drunk and stupid.

Show them pics from past DC? Bad idea. They'll never let you attend.

Bring them by at night? Bad idea. They'll leave immediately. Hacker Jeopardy on night 2 could definately set off some parent's sensibilities. Also drunk people passed out around the pools.

Legalities of transport. Don't. You're under age and it could be an issue. Some parents get very protective post event, and could try to have someone charged. Probably wouldn't, but could.

Get there on your own and meet up with some one. Good idea, but it'd also be good to have your family know the person(s) your meeting up with and be willing to sign a waiver to treat in case you get injured in any way.
These are boiler plate and can be found on the net.

[Dented-Halo]

Skroo

You are right on the button too on how the US has its positives. I have had the chance to visit almost all of the western states over the past 20+ years and I love it, I always have a good time and god damn it americans are some of the nicest people I have ever had the chance to meet with.

The constitution is a revolutionary document that even today in teh 21st century some citizens of "1st world" nations do not even have.

However I do see an eroding of those freedoms that americans wrap around themselves. As a NON american citizien not living in the states, I "think" I have a different perspective and angle from the news and information that I get that is a bit different from what hte average american gets (if they even watch/read news) and it scares me. For if america can be changed/manipulated in such ways, then every other nation is at risk.

also, god doesn't only bless america ;)

[phobal]

Every time I read the news, I become a little more irritated, as it's usually about how some megacorp got another law passed to screw the little guy, or how someone else is being held without trial (but that could be from reading too much Slashdot).

If you are in school, take a mass communications course. There you learn media effects and agenda setting theory and the beauty of framing. I think that's why you are irritated. Heh.

[dirtwork]

skroo, I'm not disagreeing with you per se, but I would like a little clarification on your post. In your mention of a peice of paper that says what the government can and cannot do, are you referring to the Constitution/Bill of Rights, or just law in general? I can't help but feel that certain unalienable rights are soon to be alienated, especially considering the USA PATRIOT Act, DMCA, Copyright extensions, et cetera. Every time I read the news, I become a little more irritated, as it's usually about how some megacorp got another law passed to screw the little guy, or how someone else is being held without trial (but that could be from reading too much Slashdot).

Eh, I could go on, but I've probably ranted enough.

[skroo]

Travel outside the US and you'd be amazed what the world is like.

True, but there are a lot of good things about the US that you will not find anywhere else in the world. Not saying that the US is better than anywhere else (or vice-versa), but I am rather fond of the fact that my basic freedoms (and several others beyond that) are *guaranteed*. There is a piece of paper that says 'this is what your government is and is not allowed to do, and specifically to you'. Not many other places on the planet do that.

Most of europe is like that regarding alcohol (age and the ability to drink it outside etc).

Depends on where you are, though. Some places it'll get you ticketed or arrested, in others they don't care. In my experience (speaking as an immigrant from Europe to the US), most of Europe isn't like that, just certain places.

[AcideX]

nice

thank god i live in vegas.