[Baypiggies] Dec. 14 Meeting "Programming Productivity: What Really Matters?"

[Anna Ravenscroft]

Okay - let me describe what I mean by "socializing".

To me, socializing is not:

"mapping" (mapping is a formal structure grouping up people and the
grouping process seems to take forever.)

dinner (getting stuck next to someone I've never met and have nothing
in common with and having to make smalltalk with them for the next
hour is my idea of hell.)

extending the Q&A session after a presentation - leaving those of us
who have heard enough stuck with the choice of being *rude* or waiting
patiently in hopes that eventually we can stand up and go talk to
someone we have been wanting to talk with - which usually happens
about 5 minutes before we're kicked out of the room...

Milling around in the lobby of google waiting to fill out a badge and
be shepherded up to a room just in time for the presentation to start.
Not everyone is there, and we're usually rather distracted.

Socializing - what I'm asking for - is a chance to talk to people, _by
choice_ -- not by enforced proximity or structured format -- including
the chance to walk around and talk to more than one person. Having
snacks and beverages is nice.

I would like a chance to socialize.

Cordially,
Anna