Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#1

Post by webista » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 1:38 PM UTC

Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?
alistapart.com

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#2

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 1:59 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#3

Post by twoodfin » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:00 PM UTC

Is this phenomenon unique to the information technology industry? I don't know what they do for fun at pharmaceutical conferences, but I suspect alcohol is often involved.

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#4

Post by atwebb » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:03 PM UTC

twoodfin wrote: post #3

Is this phenomenon unique to the information technology industry? I don't know what they do for fun at pharmaceutical conferences, but I suspect alcohol is often involved.

My thoughts exactly, perhaps better phrasing would be:

Does our Society have a drinking problem?

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#5

Post by fennecfoxen » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:03 PM UTC

twoodfin wrote: post #3

Is this phenomenon unique to the information technology industry? I don't know what they do for fun at pharmaceutical conferences, but I suspect alcohol is often involved.

Society has a bit of a drinking problem. (Some other societies, like Russia, have a bigger one. Some have less.) Next question? :P

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#6

Post by yodsanklai » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:04 PM UTC

I would say it's our society that has a drinking problem. It seems to me that overall, people drink less in our industry.

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#7

Post by Dirlewanger » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:07 PM UTC

Nice link bait by the author, wow.

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#8

Post by bluedino » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:07 PM UTC

People drinking at a social event? Who would have thought.

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#9

Post by ezl » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

No, our industry has a blogging problem.

Tech (is that our industry?) is not unique in it's practice of hosting happy hours, especially after conferences.

People like drinking. We could ask more conferences to host 5k jogs as an alternative meeting event, and it would be novel and fun, but it likely wouldn't ever be as inclusive as a happy hour (Also, it's hard to get 5 people in a circle talking while on a jog).

Not everyone drinks or likes drinking, but as a practical matter, it's:

    1. convention
    2. inexpensive for organizers
    3. easy to organize
    4. likely to encourage mingling and conversation

Which are important goals for organizers that aren't as easily met by alternate activities.

Re: Does Our Industry Have a Drinking Problem?

#10

Post by LeafStorm » Thu, Oct 24, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

Here's a point that gets forgotten in a lot of discussions of this issue:

> We’re also underlining that our events are for over-18s, maybe even over-21s, by holding them in licensed premises. Most of us know students or even those who are working professionally in our field long before they are “adult.” Should they be excluded?