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Re: Tips/warnings/suggestion for newcomers at DebConf19



> We need help from you, experienced attendee: what kind of
> tips/warnings/suggestion you can give for newcomers about DebConf? How
> newcomers can enjoy DebConf? How they can make this DebConf a great
> opportunity to join the community and help Debian?

Hm, just throwing in random stuff, most of it is highly subjective :)

General -

In a way, every debconf is different, has it's own quirks and atmosphere.
It's never exactly the same thing :)

Take the opportunity to try/do new and crazy stuff.
It's never to late to learn something 
(and it's never too late to have a happy childhood).

When trying to do things, you won't fail once, you will fail many times.
Don't let this keep you from still trying again.
---
communication -

Bring a computer, join IRC and #debconf on OFTC.
I you don't, you miss about half the communication.

subscribe to debconf-announce and debconf-discuss mailing lists.
---
People -

Don't be afraid to join people - if you sit alone at a table,
they will assume, you want to be left alone, and they will.
Not because they don't want to talk to you, 
but because they respect your privacy.

It's a great opportunity to meet lots of different people 
and talk about many interesting things.

Debian is a very heretogenos group and debconf has many attendees,
so it's likely you find people you play well with, 
no matter how weird you are.
But it's also likely to find people, you do not come along with.
---
volunteering at debconf -

For volunteer debconf work, easiest to join is the video team -
they always crave people to record all those talks
and to review recorded talks, and they provide training.
(and they are at #debconf-video, btw)

Other kind of volunteer work depends on the particular debconf
and it's often food or drinks related, but not all of it.
If you are just like me not good at finding something to do,
try to subscribe for tasks, that's far easier than finding something ad-hoc.
Sometimes it happens, that still someone else did it - just move on ;)

If you subscribe for something, be actually there to do it -
if you can't, remove yourself, preferably not on very short (like 2 minutes 
before) notice.

Don't do things you don't want or like to do,
just because you feel obligated to do them, eg because you got bursaries.

Don't take it too seriously, it should be fun.
---
random -

You are allowed to be in the hacklab, even if you aren't a hacker.

Don't be nasty to people unless you play mao :)

Everything that happens
happens for a reason and nothing is meant personal.
SCNR :)


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