This kind of comment on HN is always fascinating. Is it just simple trolling? Is it cosplay? Is it someone new (or old) to “hacking” sincerely trying to “no true scotsman” attending def con?
I have to say as a European the choice of location has always puzzled me. Corporate interests basically run las vegas, I find it a really odd choice for such a free-thinking anti-establishment community.
DEFCON needs a HUGE convention space. The size alone rules out the majority of possible locations.
Then comes the cost. August in Las Vegas is off-peak season which helps keep the cost down. Anywhere in Silicon Valley (or really anywhere in California) would be insanely expensive.
There's also convenience of travel. Las Vegas is such a huge tourist city that it makes getting flights there cheap and easy no matter where in the world you're coming from. My first time going to DEFCON was in 2017 and my flight from Portland OR was only a hair over $200.
DEF CON started as a bunch of teenagers running away from home to get ridiculously drunk and trash some place, and it hasn't changed much. Vegas was the perfect choice. It was a party. Getting to smash up an obscene capitalist hellhole was a key perk, and still is to this day.
Ahh I see. This way it makes a lot more sense, thanks for the explanation :)
I go to a lot of European hacker parties/camps and I can certainly recognise the mindset you mention (and I identify with that mindset as well even though I work in a corporate job). For this reason Las Vegas made no sense to me but in light of your comment it does now.
And yeah getting ridiculously drunk is definitely part of the experience :D
>And yeah getting ridiculously drunk is definitely part of the experience :D
Since we are talking about stuff that we don't think should be associated with hacking this is my own pet peeve. What does "getting drunk" have to do with hacking? And why is it always "absolutely smashed" or "ridiculously drunk". I get that most hacker types are shy introverts and couple drinks makes things more fun and socially fluid, but why does it need to go to hangover(s)? 9
This is primary reason which keeps me away from many "hacking camps", they are cool for couple hours, but as the sun goes down things just get sketchy and boring when I have to take care of bunch of drunk strangers.
I don't drink alcohol and I've been to every DEF CON for the past 22 years and had a blast at every one. Some people are into that sort of thing, and that's fine. Some people like cocaine and strippers. Some people like dressing up in giant fur suits. The important thing is that whatever you're into, you'll find countless incredibly intelligent and thoughtful peers to hang out with, and talk about weird hacker shit.
