Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!gatech!mcnc!spl
From: spl@mcnc.org (Steve Lamont)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: minor Siggraph question
Message-ID: <4896@alvin.mcnc.org>
Date: 18 Jul 89 13:13:30 GMT
References: <1840@ucsd.EDU> <116023@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> <60881@uunet.UU.NET> <116179@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> <60901@uunet.UU.NET>
Reply-To: spl@mcnc.org.UUCP (Steve Lamont)
Organization: Microelectronics Center of NC; RTP, NC
Lines: 29

In article <60901@uunet.UU.NET> rick@uunet.UU.NET (Rick Adams) writes:
 >Once again, the question is dodged with "trust me I know what I'm doing"
 >arguments.
 >
 >Simple question:
 >
 >	Given that I have a neato, keeno, badge with the current
 >	conference logo, etc embossed on it and that it is only
 >	given to people who have paid the technical conference
 >	fees; why do I ALSO have to have the stupid mag stripe read
 >
 >	I find it totally unbelievable that even a tiny number
 >	of badges are forged.
 >
 >Got a simple answer?
 >
 >Good enough to subject 25,000 people to unnecessary harrassment?

Sure.  It's called *marketing*.  The information garnered from the badges is
*salable* to vendors, market researchers, the NSA (want to join the NSA?  Just
pick up any telephone and dial any number.  Ask for Fort Meade :-) ).  Does
this come as any surprise from an organization that has become so
commercialized and gee-whiz Hollywood as SIGGRAPH has become?

-- 
							spl
Steve Lamont, sciViGuy			EMail:	spl@ncsc.org
North Carolina Supercomputing Center	Phone: (919) 248-1120
Box 12732/RTP, NC 27709