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FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

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Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#51

Post by steviedotboston »

ecshafer wrote: post #50
steviedotboston wrote: post #35

I attended a conference in Portland in 2022. The conference itself was fine, but Portland was a wreck. There were homeless encampments all over the place, open fires right on the sidewalks, needles and trash all over the place, boarded up buildings right in the middle of downtown. It was just bizarre and I felt pretty uncomfortable unless I was walking with other people. I don't see why anyone would choose Portland a…

Same. I went to Portland in 2022 for Railsconf. Me and my wife both went thinking to visit the city a bit before/after the conference. It was awful. Downtown was mostly boarded up and did not feel safe at all. Chicago, Philly, Baltimore, Detroit, any of these "violent" cities unironically feel safer and I would rather be in that portland.

I tried to make the most of it and look past this stuff, but after I went home and reflected on it I realized no, this isnt normal, this wasn't good, and I looking over my shoulder the whole time to make sure nobody was following me isn't something I've done in any other city.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#52

Post by steviedotboston »

neilv wrote: post #48
steviedotboston wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about this conference, but some conferences with policies like this don't really bother enforcing them. It's 2023, do they really think they're going to get anything close to 100% compliance with a mask mandate? And what will they do if someone isn't wearing a mask? Most likely just politely ask you to put one on and then walk away. I highly doubt they are going to have some kind of punitive policy in pl…

If I was running some event that had some safety rule, and someone was blatantly ignoring the rule, I'd have them removed by security or police. If an event has safety rules and doesn't follow them, a couple concerns: (1) that's irresponsible towards people relying on the rules being followed, potentially exposing them to harm, and others to liability; (2) if the event as a whole doesn't have integrity about safety r…

There is no tech conference on earth that is having people physically removed by police for not wearing a mask.

These policies exist to try to satisfy the different comfort levels people have around covid, but an obvious part of any rule is that if they are impractical or impossible to enforce and a sizable number of people are not following the rule, then it's pretty much pointless. Nobody attending a tech conference with a mask mandate is under the impression that someone who isn't complying with the rule will be removed. They know that some people won't comply.

That's been the case with mask mandates in most places for a very long time. Compliance is low, theres no way (or will) to enforce, and that's not to mention the myriad exceptions to the policy (eg, masks not required when eating or drinking) that essentially make the whole think a joke to being with.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#53

Post by ghaff »

dfinninger wrote: post #44
ghaff wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based on what a few people have told me, I'm mildly regretting booking a few days in Portland prior to spending a week out by Mt. Hood. I initially wrote it off as people not familiar with the realities of the downtown areas of a lot of West Coast cities. But it sounds as if Portland may be worse than others.

Where are you staying? There are some parts of the core downtown (Old Town) that you might want to avoid, but the rest of Portland is not what the media portrays. Hell, even my family in the burbs (Beaverton, Cornelius) think it’s some crazy wasteland and constantly ask us if we feel safe and I have to laugh at them every time. Go for a walk, rent a bike, and check out the amazing restaurant and brewery scene!

Downtown (10th Ave.) though I'm not locked in. I'm reasonably familiar with Portland though I've mostly (always?) stayed near the Convention Center for the dearly departed OSCON. I'm sure it will be fine. Probably go the West Hills, the Pearl, maybe a Willamette Valley wine tour one day.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#54

Post by ghaff »

steviedotboston wrote: post #52
neilv wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I was running some event that had some safety rule, and someone was blatantly ignoring the rule, I'd have them removed by security or police. If an event has safety rules and doesn't follow them, a couple concerns: (1) that's irresponsible towards people relying on the rules being followed, potentially exposing them to harm, and others to liability; (2) if the event as a whole doesn't have integrity about safety r…

There is no tech conference on earth that is having people physically removed by police for not wearing a mask. These policies exist to try to satisfy the different comfort levels people have around covid, but an obvious part of any rule is that if they are impractical or impossible to enforce and a sizable number of people are not following the rule, then it's pretty much pointless. Nobody attending a tech conferenc…

>Nobody attending a tech conference with a mask mandate is under the impression that someone who isn't complying with the rule will be removed.

I would absolutely expect that if someone were blatantly not wearing a mask at an event requiring them, they'd be asked to put one on or leave.

That said,

>the myriad exceptions to the policy

Certainly. Eating/drinking. Generally no masks outside. Most people not wearing them traveling, in taxis, in bars/restaurants, etc. (And mostly not wearing N95 masks.) And then there's questions of masking efficacy anyway. But from what I've seen first hand, even people who got to the point where they were rolling their eyes at tech conference rules were overwhelmingly following the letter of the law.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#55

Post by dangerwill »

away271828 wrote: post #28
dangerwill wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A hundred people per day are still dying of covid in the US, and even if you don't die from it, every fresh covid infection is rolling the dice with long covid. Masks and testing for a mass gathering involving lots of out of towners is obviously still appropriate.

It's honestly not clear to me at this point to what degree you can mitigate risks associated with air travel and large gatherings. In late 2021 I finally caught COVID attending an international event with a vaccination and mask requirement. And then it turned out that, in spite of testing negative twice, my very slight cough was in fact COVID when I tested again a week later after attending another event.

The tests and masks aren't perfect yes, but they shouldn't be dismissed because they do help improve the odds of avoiding covid. And the cost is really minor, so why not still wear a mask and test? I'm at a massive work event and wearing an n95 the entire time has not been much of a hassle at all.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#56

Post by quadrangle »

dfinninger wrote: post #49
steviedotboston wrote: post #35

I attended a conference in Portland in 2022. The conference itself was fine, but Portland was a wreck. There were homeless encampments all over the place, open fires right on the sidewalks, needles and trash all over the place, boarded up buildings right in the middle of downtown. It was just bizarre and I felt pretty uncomfortable unless I was walking with other people. I don't see why anyone would choose Portland a…

It’s changed a good bit since last year. Since your talking about boarded up buildings I assume you were near Pioneer Square? They’ve taken that down (including the crazy dystopian metal grate around the Apple Store). This conference is also east side at the convention center, I highly recommend checking out all the awesome restaurants on Williams and Broadway (Eater has lists for both).

Despite some validity to what you are saying, it has always been the case that the convention center is unusually crappy in terms of food options. It's surprising given where it is. So many other areas have better and more awesome options. I would never suggest the convention center area as the region to go to if wanting to explore great restaurants.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#57

Post by quadrangle »

thesuperbigfrog wrote: post #4
detaro wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the first instance of this conference, which they intend to run yearly.

Ah. That makes sense. Maybe it would be more clear as: "The first annual Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference" Instead of: "The first Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference" Putting "annual" in the title makes that meaning / context more clear to me.

sounds like post-hoc justification to me, you could have been confused other way

But here's a real solution (though I don't think it was a problem needing to be solved):

"FOSSY: the Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference, year 1"

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#58

Post by ksimukka »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #32
ksimukka wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hear what you are saying. IMO, the mask and covid measures in Portland feels to me to be more political based. I really don’t understand the logic in America when it comes to the current thinking about covid measures. You could say I have a Scandinavian perspective to this, but here in Norway everyone listened and trusted to what the government recommended and/or mandated. It has been a little more than a year sinc…

> I really don’t understand the logic in America when it comes to the current thinking about covid measures. It is not America. It is a very small subset of the 330M+ people living here. I would venture to say 90%+ have not thought about Covid in a long time.

Thanks, I should have been more specific to Portland.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#59

Post by spai2 »

ghaff wrote: post #53
dfinninger wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where are you staying? There are some parts of the core downtown (Old Town) that you might want to avoid, but the rest of Portland is not what the media portrays. Hell, even my family in the burbs (Beaverton, Cornelius) think it’s some crazy wasteland and constantly ask us if we feel safe and I have to laugh at them every time. Go for a walk, rent a bike, and check out the amazing restaurant and brewery scene!

Downtown (10th Ave.) though I'm not locked in. I'm reasonably familiar with Portland though I've mostly (always?) stayed near the Convention Center for the dearly departed OSCON. I'm sure it will be fine. Probably go the West Hills, the Pearl, maybe a Willamette Valley wine tour one day.

I live in Portland. My advice for you would be to avoid staying (or even visiting if possible) in downtown and Old Town. The Pearl is not too safe either, although things are starting to look up. However, there are plenty of neighborhoods that are thriving. The Nob Hill neighborhood in Northwest Portland, Clinton/Division in Southeast Portland for example are alive and buzzing. Try staying there and explore these neighborhoods. I guarantee you'll have a wonderful time.

Re: FOSSY 2023, Portland: Free and Open Source Software Yearly conference

#60

Post by ghaff »

ksimukka wrote: post #58
lotsofpulp wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I really don’t understand the logic in America when it comes to the current thinking about covid measures. It is not America. It is a very small subset of the 330M+ people living here. I would venture to say 90%+ have not thought about Covid in a long time.

Thanks, I should have been more specific to Portland.

Portland isn't making the rules. A specific open source organization (that is not based in Portland in any material way) is making the rules.
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