Python UK - April 4th and 5th

[Tony J Ibbs (Tibs)]

phil hunt wrote:
> Perhaps I'm being a little obtuse here, but why would I want to pay
> 260 quid to talk about Python? I can talk about it here for
> nothing.
>
> I guess this is something intended to be funded by the delegates'
> employers.

Well, my employer *is* paying me to go to one day of the conference -
but unfortunately, the first day, which is the day before the Python
bit. I am then paying for an additional day so I can go to the first day
of the *Python* conference (I can't spare more than two days away from
home, so that simplifies decision making).

Why bother?

Well, first off, it's nice to *meet* people with a common interest [1]_.
Broadcasting over an open medium like the Python list is nice enough
(and a tremendously useful resource), but people's written skills are
not necessarily terribly well related to their personal skills (for
instance), and meeting people can give a lot more "feel" for them than
just corresponding.

.. [1] and I get to stay with friends, which is an additional
   bonus - Duncan, do I have to promise not to talk Python
   at home?

Secondly, different people learn in different ways. It *can* be a
serious advantage to sit through a presentation, over just reading the
(essentially identical) text. And with a presentation, one can ask
questions! And it's quite hard to do a workshop online.

   (and I actually *want* to play at being an EJB instance
   - I think)

Thirdly, there's an element of potential serendipity at a conference
that one doesn't have in the more formalised environment of a list or
newsgroup. One can meet people by accident who apparently have nothing
to do with one's direct interests, but who still cast light on those
interests for reasons one could not have predicted. Or add new interests
(and this in turn means that there are actually advantages in Python
sharing space with another shared-set-of-interests).

And lastly, for some people, just the getting away can be a perk - being
in a different place, for different purposes.

(I guess it's also worth saying that 130pounds per day is pretty cheap
for a conference, especially one that has the calibre of people
attending that this one does, so no, it probably is *not*, on the whole,
intended only for people whose employers are paying.)

Tibs
--
Tony J Ibbs (Tibs)      http://www.tibsnjoan.co.uk/
"I'm a little monster, short and stout
 Here's my horns and here's my snout
 When you come a calling, hear me shout
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