[Balug-Talk] LinuxWorld Expo Deviously Cut Me From the Convention

[Michael Paoli]

Well, ... it may not have been "devious" ... but certainly not
most convenient or preferred outcome or presumed outcome.

Also, this year they're not sending out the badges, ... you have
to pick them up in person, ... they just send a deceptively somewhat
stiff envelope that feels like it might possibly even have a badge in it,
... but it doesn't, ... mentions that they're not sending badges this year,
... I presume one "needs" ID, and probably (for pre-registrants) registration
confirmation code or such.

One might not be able to wiggle around the "adults only" "requirement"
(I really think they ought to drop that, ... but in any case ...) ...
but the "LINUX Professional" "requirement" is probably rather subject
to interpretation.  If one doesn't raise a bunch 'o red flags, they
probably won't give that a second thought.

Also, ... similarly to qualifying for free magazine subscriptions, ... it
sometimes helps to be a bit creative in data interpretation and
construction (while avoiding outright untruths).  E.g. to qualify for
one magazine that I at least had difficulty qualifying for in the past,
I rather loosely and/or broadly interpreted each question, and also took
each question individually in what ever context was likely to give the
most favorable answer.  In composite, that ends up with a rather to
quite well qualified looking complimentary subscription application.

Likewise, a wee bit of creativity might work if LinuxWorld (or some
magazine or whatever) is getting a bit persnickety over qualifying data.
So, ... one might get slightly creative.  Oh, let's see ... like, ...
occupation?  Is one unemployed or a student?  Does one sometimes occupy
one's time answering a LINUX question or doing some LINUX task?  Perhaps
even in a professional context or to or for some professional?  Well there
'ya go, ... obviously a LINUX consultant.  Number of employees at entire
organization?  Well, BALUG is sort'a organized, and one has been there at
least once, right? ... or done some kind'a organized stuff at least on the
list?  Okay, ... per the list (since BALUG doesn't have anything more
"official" in terms of membership), BALUG has something well over 200
members (I put some fairly recent stats in the "admin" list ...
http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-admin-balug.org/2007-July/000391.html
Every answered any LINUX or LINUX
related question for any BALUG person or on the list?  Well, a little
context switch, ... BALUG ... employees? ... oh, ... about probably 80% or
so (just a wild guess) of BALUG folks are employed, ... IT budget?  Oh, one
could guestimate what kind of total $$ those folks control and/or have
influence over, ... etc., etc.  Title?  Let's see, ... another context
switch, ... you're an independent consultant, run and own your own
business (who cares if you ever collected a dime - that's not the current
question) ... you own the entire "business", so, ... being owner, you can
give yourself whatever title you want (owner, CEO, CFO, CTO, Sr. sys. admin.,
jr. sys admin, cable guy, ... whatever you want to put down ... that's what
your title was in the context and at the time the question was asked).
And so on, ... next question, ... pick the context for the answer that would
work well, ... etc., etc. :-)  Anyway, fairly useful.  So, ... play a bit
creatively, ... but not too outrageously, play nice, ... don't get too far
out'a line, ... and probably most folks could fairly easily "slip in
the door" (or qualify for the complimentary subscription, or whatever).

I usually manage to register myself at least twice (sometime 3 times,
including HP VIP Day) for LinuxWorld ... I find it rather convenient to
have two badges - one for the stuff that's of mostly or exclusively of
interest around my present employer and position, and one for anything
I'm interested in that's not so likely to be of interest to my present
employer or of use in my present employment context).  Only "issue" I
ever ran into with that, is since they started checking IDs (after
2001-09-11 ... as if terrorists don't have IDs or something) before
handing out badge holders ... once when I presented both badges at once
they'd only give me one badge holder, since I was "one person".  Since then
I just don't pick up both badge holders at precisely the time and place,
and I then have a badge holder for each badge.  Whenever anyone at the
expo questions the badges, my explanation is simple, "one for present
employment context, and one for all other personal and/or professional
LINUX interests" ... and the contact and mailing addresses used on each
badge (and affiliation, etc.) have things appropriately identified
and routed and such.

Also, as far as I'm aware, LinuxWorld Expo still allows on-site
registration for Exhibit Hall pass for free ... though it *might* require
some priority code for that ... if you can't find such a code, ask the
list, ... I'm sure we'll turn one up (there may have been one in that
slightly stiff envelope they sent us).  Might also still be easier to
pre-register on-line.  Then probably just show up with the
confirmation code and ID, and should breeze thorough things (or at least
that's the theory ... we'll all get to see if it works that smoothly,
... I'm hoping it does).  They probably save a few nickels (and a bit of
plastic) by not producing and sending out badges to folks who don't
show up.

Don't sweat it ... you will likely manage to get in without too
much difficulty, ... and then enjoy.

I'd also like to "beat them back" on their "adults only" requirement.
Probably far too late for this show, but if some folks want to work
together on that, (after this show) I'm all for it.  Getting the major
vendors (or at least some or enough of them) to go along with that, and
it would be likely we could make that 18+ requirement go away.  I was first
attending college at 16, and was living away from home going to UC before,
I was 18, and was was well on an engineering/IT career track even fairly
well before that, ... I think keeping out such folks really does
a disservice to both the show, and LINUX and related areas in general.


Quoting Andrey Kuznetsov <deathowl at gmail.com>:

> I recently received an email regarding LinuxWorld Expo that I could
> not attend because they prohibit Students and under 18 year olds. This
> I began to suspect after I did not receive the LWE ID Card that I
> usually get before the conference. I attended LWE before, and I am
> over 18. But those ...... had to inform me that I could not attend
> right before the conference and I assume so that I can as possibly not
> be able to re-register.
> 
> I'm looking around to find a priority code that would allow me to
> attend for free, and hopefully I'll be able to attend this year's
> conference.