Really bummed to have missed DEFCON this year, it was amazing to finally get to go for the first time last year.
I hear there was some drama and what not but hope folks were able to have a good time and look forward to hacking and chilling with y'all next year if the cards align for me!
I'm hearing some folks might be starting a new local DC meetup in Seattle proper so here's hoping for some more local meetups in the "off season".
Definitely want to send some positive vibes to the Entropic team. I wasn't there so I don't have a better read than others, but I have been on teams of independent contractors and it'd be pretty devastating to get stiffed in the way this blog describes (even if a teammate pissed off the client).
Entropic clearly did some serious work on this year's badge and I hope the conference is able to resolve that dispute.
@deviantollam has a great video up with a much more upclose OTG details from DEFCON on the badge situation.
Sadly sounds like DEFCON both had good cause to pull the plug on the badge contract+talk and luckily had volunteers on hand who successfully completed delivery of the project.
That's no small feat!
Hard to watch contractors getting fired etc but Dev tends to have a pretty level headed read on things.
@nullagent @deviantollam but to ban Dimitri from the discord and #defcon in the future?
Seems heavy handled, even for #defcon
If you listen closely to deviant he wonders the same thing but fills in the detail that Dimitri had a broader pattern of bad behavior (beyond the btc beg screen easter egg) that would have gotten anyone at least a warning and possible ban if they continued, which he did.
Meanwhile everyone seems consistent (including Entropic) that his behavior during the project and at dc32 was an issue that HE should have done better at and was not in Entropic's best interest.
@nullagent @deviantollam thanks for the clarification
On a larger scale, I still wonder how some long time DEFCON staff are still around, considering their conduct over the years. 🤔
@Irishmasms @nullagent like in any large organization, DEF CON definitely has had to learn how to do its share of growing and policing problematic behavior.
Such a goal is one that is always increasing, too. The continual quest for self-reflection and improvement means that effort continues even after each success.
I think the DEF CON of today handled the current situation (and other challenges) better than The org would have a decade ago. I think what DEF CON is in another 10 years would probably look back on current decisions with notes and ideas of even better approaches.
I like to focus both on immediate actions as well as overall trends in growth and improvement.
nullagent
IrishMASMS
Deviant Ollam