This seems more ideological and not overly appropriate for NANOG. ----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions http://www.ics-il.com Midwest-IX http://www.midwest-ix.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Glen A. Pearce <nanog@ve4.ca> To: nanog@nanog.org Sent: Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:54:59 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: NANOG 90 Attendance? On 11/02/2024 7:56 a.m., Tom Beecher wrote:
Yup. Post pandemic, the unfortunate hotel situation, and a non-zero number of companies still have tight travel budgets.
It's been slowly creeping back though.
Except we aren't really "post-pandemic" despite the claims that we are. As long as COVID exists and we don't reach eradication there are going to be a number of people who might have otherwise participated in these types of events that will opt not to if they have the choice. Unfortunately I don't see us eradicating COVID as long as governments succeed at convincing people that it's not a problem anymore because that's easier than taking on the people that throw a fit if pandemic control measures inconvenience them. Info on what a problem COVID still is from some of the few people that still write about it: https://www.okdoomer.io/its-that-bad/ https://www.textise.net/showText.aspx?strURL=https%253A//www.normalcyfugitiv... Now I know I can't tell people what to do but I can share what I know if it might help some people. This pandemic has been one failure after another with the virus being underestimated at every turn. I have thoughts on what I think should be done to get us to eradication but that gets political and probably too off topic for NANOG. So back to the topic, because of this situation there will always be some people opting out of gatherings wherever possible as long as this drags on and we won't ever be fully back to "normal" as much as many people try to fake normal. (I think Jessica at okdoomer had it nailed when she used the term "cosplaying 2019".) It may be a little less obvious as most of the people opting out aren't really being vocal about why, they just aren't showing up. As for why the sales people are still showing up... ...detachment from reality has long been a big part of "sales culture". (Whereas it's not an inherent into "techy culture".) -- Glen A. Pearce gap@ve4.ca Network Manager, Webmaster, Bookkeeper, Fashion Model and Shipping Clerk. Very Eager 4 Tees http://www.ve4.ca ARIN Handle VET-17