I'm sad about not being at #38c3. Not because of regret for not going, not because it's far away, not because it's expensive, or because tickets are hard to get and I didn't get one.
No, my reason for being sad is that it absolutely would have been possible for me to go, if it hadn't been for being socially excluded because orga couldn't be bothered to take even the most minimal air quality and/or public health precautions, turning it from a rare enjoyable social event into a direct risk to my life.
@joepie91 Had the same sentiment last year. Would you be interested in a #39c3novid initiative? I'm thinking #PlusLife test offers, handing out masks, a corner with airfilters, etc.
I know that doesn't solve the problem of lots of other unmasked people, but it could create a small, safer space.
@gittaca I have conflicting thoughts on that. Nominally I recognize that it would be a good idea, but the appeal of Congress for me is to have a space I can roam around in and socialize comfortably, something I don't get to do very often.
Being essentially isolated in a small area, with no support from orga, doesn't really tick that box for me, and by that point I'd mostly just be showing up to do work, rather than enjoying myself. And being immunocompromised, I would simply not be able to roam the broader Congress safely.
By that point I feel like maybe organizing a different event would be a better use of my time and (scarce) energy...
@joepie91 😔 Understandable. I hope one of the smaller camps in Summer fits better.
@gittaca I'll probably be going to WHY2025 - being in the outdoor air does help a lot with air safety and quality, even in the absence of formal measures. Also hoping that a next eth0 event will have good safety measures like the previous one again, then I'll probably go there as well.
But neither are quite the same as Congress of course 😕
@joepie91 True. I never heard of eth0 before, thanks for the hint!