[GLLUG] Penguicon

Mon Apr 23 19:23:53 EDT 2007

Benjamin,

Overall, the con wasn't full of bickering at all.  In fact, there 
weren't any GLUUG conflicts at the con because the problem people were 
the ones that nobody could find.  All you are seeing is the trailing bit 
of friction resulting from the individuals that consistently blew off 
their shifts and those that gave up their plans to do the responsible 
thing and pick up the slack.  If those individuals hadn't accepted the 
responsibilities they weren't willing to fill, there wouldn't have been 
a problem to begin with.  Nobody's upset about someone coming in a 
little bit late or leaving a little bit early (Thanks again for covering 
my part so I could do Junk Pile Wars, Julie).

This was my first time, and I had a blast.  I would strongly recommend 
you go.  Total, I spent $21 in souvenirs, $50 on half of a room for a 
night (I stayed with friends Thursday and Saturday nights), some gas, 
and some of my time volunteering in the lounge.  The food and drink (and 
alcohol if you so choose) were all provided.  The convention fee was 
refunded if you worked 6+ hours (plus prizes, like new books starting at 
two hours), free surprisingly current hardware from the junk-pile wars 
(if you competed), etc.  So, if you forget the souvenirs and share a 
room with 3 other people, you are looking at $50 + gas for the whole 
weekend.  If you do share a room with 7 other people (and do two 
sleeping shifts), you are looking at $25 (+gas), or you can crash at the 
penguin pit for free (+gas).  I was only sharing a double-room with one 
other person, but I don't think I slept a full five hours either night 
(by choice, without caffeine -- that type of a schedule was not uncommon 
for others either).  There's just so much to do (and free caffeinated 
water, pop, coffee, mints, gum, etc. appeared to help others some too).

Heck, if you bum a ride there and back, sleep in the penguin pit, and 
volunteer, you could in theory pay nothing and come back with a ton of 
memories, a bunch of old hardware, some books, bragging rights for 
winning next year's Junk Pile Wars, etc.  I hope the money aspect is now 
debunked, so you've got about a year's head start on the time problem :).

Chick,

Assuming you do the schedule again next year, could we please include 
pager/cell-phone numbers so an individual going off-duty could issue a 
polite reminder to the person who's late?

Benjamin Cathey wrote:
> LOL - wow, it's like being in middle school all over again. 
> 
> I didn't get a chance to go to the con because of a lack of money and time.  I'm starting to think it's a good thing I didn't go.  Was there bickering the whole time?  I thought the idea was to have fun and educate people and celebrate linux.  I realize, if someone says they were going to be somewhere then they should be there but pointing fingers, after the fact, doesn't really do any good and just incites more confrontation.  Yes, someone should be somewhere when they say they are going to, but also people need to be flexible to some degree as well.  I suppose, since I've never been able to attend a meeting, I don't get a say but it seems this group is awfully rigid and political in a way that the GRLUG never seemed to be.
> 
> Just my thoughts and I appreciate the amusing way this bickering goes - it makes me think of siblings pointing the finger.  Linux users unite, not squabble amongst yourselves ;]
> 
> 
> Benjamin Cathey
> System Administrator
> Cathey Company
> 4917 Tranter St.
> Lansing, MI 48910 USA
> Phone:     517.393.4720
> Fax:       517.393.4225
> Toll Free: 800.333.1972
> "Service is Our Profession"
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Eduardo Cesconetto
> [mailto:eduardo at cesconetto.com]
> To: Caleb Cushing
> [mailto:xenoterracide at gmail.com]
> Cc: GLLUG
> [mailto:linux-user at egr.msu.edu]
> Sent: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:29:27
> -0400
> Subject: Re: [GLLUG] Penguicon
> 
> 
>> ->> On Mon, 2007-04-23 at 09:42 -0400, Caleb Cushing wrote:
>> ->> > 
>> ->> >                 - When we volunteer to help at the lounge, we make a
>> ->> >                 commitment. Other
>> ->> >                 volunteers also want to attend panels and have fun,
>> ->> >                 and by not showing 
>> ->> >                 up, some volunteer(s) disrespected the group, and I
>> ->> >                 honestly think
>> ->> >                 something should be done about it.
>> ->> >         
>> ->> >         this is exactly why I didn't want to be an official volunteer
>> ->> >         at all, and wanted to avoid security shifts (because they are
>> ->> >         more critical). Also you didn't seem to have this same opinion
>> ->> >         when I was looking for Jordan when he was missing his shift.
>> ->> >         It went from he's over there to, oh he's missing his shift, I
>> ->> >         don't know where he is. This seems hypocritical on your part.
>> ->> I am referring to EVERYBODY that left other people hanging, and yes, you
>> ->> where the champion of that.
>> ->> > 
>> ->> > I have one more thing to say on this. Instead of ostracizing (and
>> ->> > wanting to punish?) members of the group, and pointing fingers (even
>> ->> > though saying "you know who you are" instead of directly) perhaps
>> ->> > those that helped out extra should be rewarded somehow. 
>> ->> The best reward in my opinion is knowing we thrived, and again, if
>> ->> nobody point to what is wrong, it cannot be corrected(and that includes
>> ->> my English language skills)
>> ->> > 
>> ->> > 
>> ->> > 
>> ->> 
>> ->> _______________________________________________
>> ->> linux-user mailing list
>> ->> linux-user at egr.msu.edu
>> ->> http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>> ->> 
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