[OSGeo-Discuss] [OSGeo-Conf] Announcement: Call for Location global FOSS4G 2023

[karsten]

Dear (OS)Geo friends,

>  > we really hope that FOSS4G2023 can be safely  > organized in 
>  > physical format.
>> Why?
>>> Because we humans are social animals; and people like me, who are almost
completely burnt out by not having been outside of their houses for nearly
>>> two years, could really use an in-person event to see their friends and
their personal heroes.

Exactly, I can only say yes, yes and yes to this. For me the social
interaction is the main reason (at least for me) 
to attend such and event (even an online one).
I can go even a step further: while the technical/subject content is nice,
often even great that is not the main driver to attend such and event - I
can watch such in video and recordings all over the web online any time, but
the human interaction, networking and all that is priceless. It is
absolutely  a main driver for such events. This is not going to be covered
with any online event (even a great one like FOSS4G Argentina last year),
yup it  still does not come even close, too much is lost in 'translation'. 

>>> I'm not gonna attack Jonathan's points (or even reply to them, risking
an episode of sealioning to erode my patience), 

Neither will I do, some of the points are definitely valid 

>>> but I want to make one of my own:
>>> It's good for our collective mental health. We *want* an in person
event, we
>>> *hope* for it; which for me is a sign our brains have some demand for
it, even if it's intangible.

While there are many pros and cons (online vs. in person) that could lead to
"years of discussions' 
and a hundred people have 300 opinions - for me it really boils down to the
need for the social interactions (and all the myriad of benefits that stem
from that) mentioned above. 
I did not even start listing all my personal benefits (as a 'placeholder'
example) I had after I attended my fist FOSS4G Vancouver in 2007 (and other
conferences over the years) 
because I don't want to go into the "nitty gritty" here.

Long live FOSS4G "in person" events !

Cheers
Karsten

Principal TerraGIS LTD 
www.terragis.net