I have been thinking of going to defcon for the last lil while, and maybe will be able to next year. The trip would also need to include my g/f, she knows a bit about computers, but not a whole lot. In your opinion, would there be enough for her to do there, or should she venture other places?
I have been thinking of going to defcon for the last lil while, and maybe will be able to next year. The trip would also need to include my g/f, she knows a bit about computers, but not a whole lot. In your opinion, would there be enough for her to do there, or should she venture other places?
If she's Ceren [spilth.org], go for it. Otherwise, don't bother.
First off, there are females at DefCon, and not all of them are there, because they think it's an easy place to pick up guys.
That said, have her look at the program and see if any of the talks are interesting to her. If she knows only a bit, maybe the technical talks won't be that interesting, but the talks that delve into the overlap between politics and technology might be of interest. I'm guessing if she's not that into it, the contests wouldn't be very fun to her.
If it's not her thing at all, have her look and see if Vegas is something interesting to her, and she can join you later. But, I'd be more inclined to say, if it's not her thing, plan a different trip that both of you would enjoy before or after DefCon.
Not that I'm quite non-technical-- I lost my interest in computers a long while ago, though technology and technology's sociological effects are very interesting to me.
I quite enjoyed all but the classes I went there specifically to see-- the hardware hacking was pretty much a waste of time, but everything else I went to far exceeded my expectations. I was able to go from one "non-tech" talk to another, without feeling out of place, and struck up conversations with the
There are lots of girls at defcon, someare computer people, some want to be, some are just crazy artsy. Check out pictures from the defcon8 of all the girls. Love the shoes and matching mailbox.
It's Vegas, girls will find something to do in Vegas, best of all they get invited to all the cool parties.
http://www.bluespruce.org/tours/dc8.html [bluespruce.org]
1) don't go to defcon, it's over. there hasn't been a good con for years
2) if you fail to adhere to recommendation 1, don't bring your girlfriend. it's a very trying place as it is.
3) if you fail to go with either recommendation, make sure you have a strong liver and a desire to not get anything useful out of a very expensive weekend
Defcon died after 9, I'm just said it took me 'til 11 to fully realize it.
Defcon died after 9, I'm just said it took me 'til 11 to fully realize it. I haven't been able to attend one yet, but what exactly has 'died' about the confrence? Content, quality?
I think this happens with a lot of "con-going" folks. It's certainly happened with a lot of the long-lived anime conventions. What used to be about a (in the US) esoteric animation format and a forum to trade hard-to-find things and meet people with your same interest (and of course, geek out in a group) turned into Pokefest with more kneebiters than nihonjin. So, most of the original attendees have dropped out.
Probably a standard thing in subcultures that start going mainstream, I imagine.
The technical content had suffered in the last couple of years. It enjoyed a sharp uptick this year, though. I though DC12 was much better in terms of organization and content than any of the earlier ones I've attended, back through 5.
My gf convinced me to go. She was at a novice level of computer knowledge but saw a blurb on peekabooty in a newspaper. I retired my security hacking in the 80's back when it was nearly effortless to hack systems. I was apprehensive about going because I felt like I'd be looked poorly on for almost having newbie status on the topics at hand, and assumed she would be in the same boat.
She told me you only live once, so what if they look down on us, if they do, they suck, and we probably won't be the only ones
Girls (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Girls (Score:2, Funny)
I have been thinking of going to defcon for the last lil while, and maybe will be able to next year. The trip would also need to include my g/f, she knows a bit about computers, but not a whole lot. In your opinion, would there be enough for her to do there, or should she venture other places?
If she's Ceren [spilth.org], go for it. Otherwise, don't bother.
Re:Girls (Score:2)
Re:Girls (Score:4, Funny)
Bring a girl to defcon? Isn't that like bringing a pizza to a fat farm?
;-)
Seriously, bring her along. If she doesn't like the event, there's plenty for her to do nearby.
Re:Girls (Score:3, Funny)
Actually, it's precisely like bringing a girl to a fat farm.
Re:Girls (Score:4, Informative)
That said, have her look at the program and see if any of the talks are interesting to her. If she knows only a bit, maybe the technical talks won't be that interesting, but the talks that delve into the overlap between politics and technology might be of interest. I'm guessing if she's not that into it, the contests wouldn't be very fun to her.
If it's not her thing at all, have her look and see if Vegas is something interesting to her, and she can join you later. But, I'd be more inclined to say, if it's not her thing, plan a different trip that both of you would enjoy before or after DefCon.
Re:Girls (Score:2)
Not that I'm quite non-technical-- I lost my interest in computers a long while ago, though technology and technology's sociological effects are very interesting to me.
I quite enjoyed all but the classes I went there specifically to see-- the hardware hacking was pretty much a waste of time, but everything else I went to far exceeded my expectations. I was able to go from one "non-tech" talk to another, without feeling out of place, and struck up conversations with the
Re:Girls (Score:1)
Re:Girls (Score:2, Interesting)
2) if you fail to adhere to recommendation 1, don't bring your girlfriend. it's a very trying place as it is.
3) if you fail to go with either recommendation, make sure you have a strong liver and a desire to not get anything useful out of a very expensive weekend
Defcon died after 9, I'm just said it took me 'til 11 to fully realize it.
Re:Girls (Score:2)
I haven't been able to attend one yet, but what exactly has 'died' about the confrence? Content, quality?
Re:Girls (Score:2)
Probably a standard thing in subcultures that start going mainstream, I imagine.
Re:Girls (Score:1)
Re:Girls (Score:1)
My gf convinced me to go. She was at a novice
level of computer knowledge but saw a blurb on
peekabooty in a newspaper. I retired my security
hacking in the 80's back when it was nearly effortless
to hack systems. I was apprehensive about going because
I felt like I'd be looked poorly on for almost
having newbie status on the topics at hand, and
assumed she would be in the same boat.
She told me you only live once, so what if they
look down on us, if they do, they suck, and
we probably won't be the only ones