arrival dinner idea

[Ya'akov Sloman]

For many years I have attended the arrival dinner even if I could only sometimes eat some of the food on offer. It's a social event, but it's not a plenary. Dave's alternative offers another choice, and yet others could be organized (as Abigail points out).

I think perhaps the idea of "anti" is outdated. One of the salient features of the Perl community (shared by many other "communities") is that there are many affinity groups of varying sizes all in orbit around Perl, and sharing that as a cohesive force.  Plenary events are nice, but universality isn't an organic sort of thing.  Having many different options that can be comfortable events for the different sorts of people is good.

Dave's event is organized (largely) on dietary principles. Other events could have other organizing principles if people feel drawn to them.

In the end, not everyone "arrives" in time for the "Arrival Dinner", and not everyone choosing to join the "anti-Arrival Dinner" is dissenting.  I will be with Dave this year, but it's not because I am against Uri's event; a genuine YAPC tradition.  All sincere expressions of community should be welcome and, from my perspective most certainly are something I will advocate for; even if I don't participate.

Let's focus on the commonality, not the differences — that's actually the sustaining strength of YAPC, a community conference.

I LOVE YOU ALL WITH A GREAT HUGE LOVE,
Ya'akov

> On May 19, 2015, at 12:07, Abigail via yapc <yapc at pm.org> wrote:
> 
> On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 05:33:53PM +0200, Sawyer X via yapc wrote:
>> +1 to that.
>> 
>> That's actually why I won't go to the Arrival Dinner in the first place.
>> Having a wide range of people for the Arrival Dinner (literally anyone), I
>> would have hoped people would opt for a place that accommodates as many
>> people as possible while a grill place accommodates only some.
>> 
> 
> 
> Yeah, well, we've had an arrival dinner for years (2003 was the first
> one, IIRC). Most (all?) have been organized by Uri, and while there 
> have always been complaints, not many have stepped up and organized
> an alternative -- Dave being the most notable exception.
> 
> I'd say the people that actually step up and organize an (Anti-)*Arrival
> dinner get to pick the place. Don't like the location? Don't go. Know
> about an awesome alternative? Pick up the phone, reserve some space
> and announce your alternative on the Wiki/mailinglist.
> 
> I'm not going to YAPC for its awesome food options -- I'm there to
> meet up with people. That's why I also go to the Arrival dinner, for
> the people, not the food.
> 
> Having said that, a Mongolian BBQ probably accomodates more people than
> many alternatives, as it gives you a wide range of food items to select
> from. But most != everyone; giving the herd of cats Perl people are,
> I doubt there exits a place that will accommodate every one.
> 
> 
> Abigail
> 
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