post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

[Stypica]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

I find I get the same post-con depression from Comic-Con, Goth Convergence, Batsday, Discworld and DefCon... There is something natural and comfortable about being surrounded by "your people" - going back to the real world sucks:(

[flea]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

Me, CJ, queeg and the captain were at a store on tuesday (I think) and some kid ran by, I opened my mouth and started to yell, "HEY, SLOW IT DOWN OR I'LL EAT YOUR FOOT!" Then, sadly, closed my mouth and realized I wasn't allowed to yell at anybody for almost a year :(

I slept last night in a hotel locally. I just couldn't fall asleep without a scratchy bed spread under me, stained carpet and bad air conditioner blowing 'luke-cold' air at me all night.

Ok, kidding, I DID spend the night in a hotel but not because I HAD to, because I WANTED to...

I just don't understand why it's so inappropriate to drink 151 and rockstar from an ice bucket outside of defcon.. It's SO accepted there!

[AcidicA]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

I work with a bunch of people who either never went to college, don't speak English or are just morons in general so it hurts to think just a week ago I was surrounded by so many people with so many brilliant minds working in them and now I just cook. I try to explain the experience and they don't get it. They don't understand how surreal it is to stand next to a table covered with items that look like bombs. Or to sink DT and Jgrand in the Dunk tank. Or to simply listen in on talks about physical security, or better yet lack there of in our own homes.
In short I miss so many of you. I am thankful I met you this time around and got to throw so many foreign objects at you.

[mfreeck]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

I work with a bunch of people who either never went to college, don't speak English or are just morons in general so it hurts to think just

When I went to my first defcon, I had not attended a single college course and I worked at a company that hired many immigrants and had a workforce comprised of 75% disabled people - many of them developmentally disabled as it was physical work.

a week ago I was surrounded by so many people with so many brilliant minds working in them and now I just cook. I try to explain the experience and they don't get it. They don't understand how surreal it is to stand next to a table

Don't discount these people. The folks I worked with, of course they aren't going to understand the computer stuff - it's not their schtick. But they were very happy for me and I when I blathered something I just figured out (I was working on a tech project at the time), dumbing it down (they still didn't get it), I would say "and this is really good!" and they would appropriately be happy for me. I should say most of my conversations were with my bosses who were not developmentally disabled, though not exactly defcon smart.

In fact, maybe I'm not defcon smart. Going to defcon certainly doesn't guarantee you smarts. I don't have a college degree. I worked as a janitor for 8 years and I still don't work in IT and probably won't. So. Does that make me less valuable? I've heard a couple of stories of folks who quietly worked as janitors while publishing books, which wasn't discovered until they passed away.

It's not all about smarts. Smarts help, but you can still be a class-A asshole and a rotten human being.

When I first went to defcon, I wore a skirt made out of HD platters. I was shocked that so very few people recognized what they were. Most people thought they were "metal CDs." One fellow *after* I explained what they were said "oh, how did you get those little circles on them? Did you go around them with a pin?"

OTOH, I did very much enjoy being around people who got my jokes without the ten minute explanation. I enjoyed being able to use words (tech or just large) that were instantly understood. It was wonderful being with my peers, except around male scenewhores when I was considered prey. I did have a bit of that letdown when I came back "oh, I can't (really) talk to anyone here again." I still valued my coworkers company and support though.

Defcon is like an acid trip - you can't accurately explain it to someone who hasn't been. Don't try, just enjoy the groove of your job.

[sk00t]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

In fact, maybe I'm not defcon smart. Going to defcon certainly doesn't guarantee you smarts. I don't have a college degree. I worked as a janitor for 8 years and I still don't work in IT and probably won't.

I had a long conversation about this Sunday night at the Riv. I dropped out of high school, then out of college after dropping back in. I just couldn't sit and be spoonfed and it was killing my soul and my love for learning. It's a prevailing theme, and most of the folks I know who do have some sort of degree have one in something they were simply interested in, like History, Psych, etc. Not a ding on anyone with a proper CS, EE, etc major -- I have tons of respect for the folks who were able to run the gauntlet.

The other thing that struck a chord for me is your saying "I'm not DefCon smart"... I think that's exactly why you ARE DefCon smart (saying this without knowing you IRL, you may be a moron in reality, but I don't think so). The people who grow and learn as a lifelong journey are the ones who always believe they have more to know. Socrates by way of Operation Ivy: "All I know is that I don't know nothin'".

So. Does that make me less valuable? I've heard a couple of stories of folks who quietly worked as janitors while publishing books, which wasn't discovered until they passed away.

Kafka was an accountant his whole life. Einstein was a postal worker. Faraday was working class and served as a valet.

It's not all about smarts. Smarts help, but you can still be a class-A asshole and a rotten human being.

Amen. Luckily only a handful of examples of that in recent memory I can think of.

[NetworkJedi]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

I notice that I keep on wanting a beer and a coffee to help me get through the day. Then remembering that I can't have Energy Drinks after 7:00pm.
Then also not being able to be caffeinated and drunk before 12:00....

Bummer. Let's make another Con to go to between now and next August.

We can have it here in Vancouver!

[Z^2]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

I notice that I keep on wanting a beer and a coffee to help me get through the day. Then remembering that I can't have Energy Drinks after 7:00pm.
Then also not being able to be caffeinated and drunk before 12:00....

Bummer. Let's make another Con to go to between now and next August.

We can have it here in Vancouver!

there are a bunch between now and next august that i'm sure you could find here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_con

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

When I got back I had to explain to people at my work (I work at an ISP) what Defcon was and that it wasn't full of malicious people and was actually an educational conference. (er well, most of it, anyway.)

[jur1st]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

some kid ran by, I opened my mouth and started to yell, "HEY, SLOW IT DOWN OR I'LL EAT YOUR FOOT!" Then, sadly, closed my mouth and realized I wasn't allowed to yell at anybody for almost a year :(

As someone who was a lifeguard in a former, thinner life this urge still plagues me to this day. Of course at this point when it runs through my head it's accompanied by "damn kids."

You can imagine how terrible the culture shock was when I returned to the firm on Monday morning. Having to explain everything while being sleep deprived wasn't that great.

[Diesel]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

Completely agree. I was only back for a few hours and found myself hoping 16 was the next day. There is something about being around your 'peeps' that are into the same things.

Diesel

[Mel]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

This was my first DefCon.. and.. HOLY SHIT, this is byfar, the best con I have ever gone to (in all of other con-doms :P)

So.. yeah.. I never want DefCon to end :P I have been playing ALOT more with wireless stuff since I got back home, and just still grabbing random files from my friends. Well.. any.. thanx for a really good con.. see you next year :) (or sooner?)

[erehwon]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

First time in a long time I actually thought Defcon was too short, and here I thought after Black Hat and all the fun that goes with it! I wouldn't have the energy to finish the week.

[theprez98]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

First time in a long time I actually thought Defcon was too short, and here I thought after Black Hat and all the fun that goes with it! I wouldn't have the energy to finish the week.

There did seem to be some sentiment during the closing ceremonies for starting Defcon on Thursday. Having only been there once now, I don't really know what to think of it. Most people could probably leg it out, but that's putting incredible strain on the staff.

[jjarmoc]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

So, tuesday morning (monday was a travel day for me) I walk into the office. Conversation goes like this;

Boss: Hey, welcome back! How were Blackhat and Defcon?
Me: Pretty good, had a great time and learned a lot... we need to talk though.

Moments later, I turned in my resignation :)

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: post-defcon cultureshock for you too?

Moments later, I turned in my resignation :)

what was the reason? you realized you were surrounded by too many normals or noobs or what?