Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!ames!lll-winken!uunet!rick
From: rick@uunet.UU.NET (Rick Adams)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: minor Siggraph question
Summary: badges are  a farce
Message-ID: <60881@uunet.UU.NET>
Date: 17 Jul 89 22:32:12 GMT
References: <1840@ucsd.EDU> <116023@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Organization: UUNET Communications Services, Falls Church, VA
Lines: 39

The siggraph badge system is a joke. They give you a badge that's valid
for technical sessions and then they check the magstripe on the back to
make sure that its valid for techincal sessions.

There were always lines to get in the sessions. It was extremely
annoying if you wandered in and out several times (things do run in
parallel you know)

The seating at the filmshow rationalizaion is insane. The badge readers
weren't used for the filmshow!

The badge readers should be discontinued for the simple reason they
they are rude and an annoyance.  (If you have a siggraph tech sessions
badge, then the only reason to use the readers is if you think its
forged. fat chance.  If the reader rejects the badge, they let you in
anyway)

If I pay several hundered dollars to attend a "professional" conference
I dont want to be treated like a gate crasher. SIGGRAPH treated me
like a theif. I resent it.

I've attended the last 11 SIGGRAPHs. I'll be in Boston. If they are
still using those insipid badge readers, I'll presume that the program
conference doesn't give a damn about the attendees anymore and stop
coming.

This really strikes me as an organization getting big and successful
and arrogant. I have header no adequate justification for it. The arguments
are always "its not so bad" or "why does it bother you". Never why its
important.

SIGGRAPH is sticking an inventory control label on their attendees.
Its rude and insulting.

Everyone attending siggraph this year make sure to take along a nice
strong magnet. Wipe out the mag strip on the badge. Share the magnet with
your friends. The other option is to be treated like a commodity.

--rick