Geeks and Vegas: Get Your Social On

So I'm in Vegas right now at DevConnections/DotNetNuke OpenForce. I should be downstairs in the smoke-filled casino, watching friends hand over well-earned money to the Vegas machine. I'm not really a gambler - I like craps and I might donate some hard-earned money to the poor slob that owns this casino from time to time - but in general I don't gamble. I blog dammit. So here I sit (I was told I start off too many paragraphs with the word "So". This is one of "those things" you learn from fellow geeks who know too many things. Hrrmph.), looking out my window, wondering if I should kick up WoW or just go to bed. It's late, I'm far too sober for Vegas at midnight, and I feel like a big pansy for sitting here while my friends hand over their salaries downstairs. What to do... So if you've never felt compelled to come to these conferences (MIX, DevConnections, TechEd, RubyConf, etc) I urge you to reconsider the next time around (such as this spring, for MIX 08). The talks are usually pretty fascinating - and yes you can always catch the videos later, but you'll be missing out. So these conferences are so much more than that - they're a chance to meet people, face to face, and say "I really like/hate this thing you wrote about/created/commented on. I love you/you suck!" and then start up a dialog. For instance this week I got to hang out with Rick Strahl, Scott Hanselman, Joe Brinkman, and Cathal Connely - guys I really respect and have always wanted to meet. At MIX 07 last year I stalked John Lam and struck up a really fun 2o minute conversation all about Ruby and the DLR (in which he used the words "OK so this is Compliler 101... right?" and I said "uummmmm yah sure whatever braniac." and he STILL talked to me!). So it's not like you need any type of "pedigree" - these guys are cruising the halls, hanging out at the Blackjack tables, asking for money for cab rides, etc. I ran into Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell from DotNetRocks the first night I was here. I'd never met them before and it was a thrill to finally meet them in person! I bought Carl a Woodford (his favorite bourbon) and the stories started to roll... So I also got the chance to buy Joe Brinkman a beer - something I've wanted to do for many, many years. I figured him for a "Cold Bud and dirty ash tray" kind of guy - but he surprised me and ordered a Chimay! Or maybe it was a Corona... I can't really remember as the shock of it all robbed me of my senses. Joe Brinkman... Corona drinker. The earth is gonna spin backwards now. So a few others wandering by joined us, and next thing I know we're discussing fun, lighthearted topics like Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and Vista's UAC. The discussion got loud (in a good way), people moved away from us, and it was a damn good time... So the best part for me, however, was meeting people that are using SubSonic in their daily work, and hearing the goods/bads of their experience. It's always nice to hear a good word or two about the project - but what I find to be very motivating (I think I need to say "super" now that I'm an MSofty) is the face-to-face thing when recommendations for changes are made. It's so different to hear these things in person because you get a chance to engage - ask questions, make faces, crack jokes - and get to know so much more about the people that are using the stuff you create. That's priceless. So if you get the chance to come to MIX this year, please do! I'll be there and I'd love to hang out and talk to any and all about - well about anything really. This kind of thing should be mandatory for all geeks.