[okfn-hu] Planning for open data workshop in Budapest, 20th May

Mon May 2 20:35:49 UTC 2011

Hello all!

I just subscribed to the list, because I am interested in open data and the
conference itself and I don't know too much about it. Gervai Péter, were you
asked to speak at the event and are you declining right now? Are you one of
the organizers? I am only asking these questions, because your rant about
the event seems very strange to me, but I guess it is only because I am a
new subscriber to the list, so I don't know what the context of the rant is,
could you maybe enlighten those of us on the list who feel the same way?

All the best,
--
dem

On 2 May 2011 22:04, Peter Gervai <grinapo at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Mon, May 2, 2011 at 21:12, Jonathan Gray <jonathan.gray at okfn.org>
> wrote:
>
> > The event was always intended to be a [...]
>
> I cannot really emphasize on the point that I haven't been had the
> faintest idea what this event _is_. I get invited to much more events
> than I have time to attend and I do not really like events where
> nothing happens apart from smart people telling other smart people
> what a wonderful world this could be if people were doing nice things
> instead of stupid things. Of course there is a place for political
> chitchat at a coffee but ... I would rather let others to do that. I
> often have to waste my time on people in key positions who act like
> they cared while they clearly don't, and trying to change the world
> while the world clearly resists. It makes pretty annoying to attend
> events where it isn't even planned to try to have any effect
> whatsoever.
>
> This "unconference" isn't described as such, at least it wasn't, and I
> still don't really get what it's about apart from telling each others
> what we already know. Look at the document you opened in etherpad,
> where I have appended just really a few thoughts on the topic, which
> could easily fill a 3 days "real" conference with people in the
> position who could do about it and won't.  I can tell you these, I can
> easily talk about it for hours, and it wouldn't change anything.
>
> So I hope you know what you're doing.
>
> > small informal 'unconference' or
> > 'Barcamp' for developers, NGOs, journalists and others interested in
> > open government data in Hungary. We are going to see who is there on
> > the day and what they are interested in doing and making.
>
> We had recently a mass protest on the streets every week about various
> things, sometimes even famous people out there. Nothing's changed, not
> even a bit. Nobody gave a poo up there. I guess I just got tired to
> see those who's interested and cannot do a thing about it.
>
> > several people have requested information about an agenda, I thought
> > we could do a bit of planning in advance so we can hit the ground
> > running! :-)
>
> Now imagine my little insignificant myself. Sometimes people ask me to
> meet them, to go to events they nurture or worry about, and I have my
> family, job and pretty time consuming hobbies. I usually try to go out
> as few as possible because most of these events do not give me
> anything valuable, while they definitely take away my precious time.
> So when someone doesn't even tell me what it's about and I don't know
> why should I go there... what's the point? Only those will attend who
> have plenty of time, or like to go out and meet people no matter
> whether it's about the right to have sex for sweetwater fish or the
> coal mining association's annual meeting. I try to pick events I do
> care about and try to pick those which offer expected results for my
> time spent.
>
> This unconference or whatever you call it is a big, ugly black hole. I
> may go because I wonder who's there or rather in the hope that
> regardless of the lack of information and visible purpose it may
> actually be something useful. Or I'll sigh and say to myself "oh well,
> another wasted day, again".
>
> > This is not to be confused with the event the day before (on the 19th)
> > with Hungarian civil servants, representatives from the European
> > Commission and EU member states - which is a more structured, formal
> > affair with presentations and talks.
>
> This event is a fscking SECRET. Don't tell me it's not to be confused
> with because I do not even know about it. It has been mentioned as
> some great thing beyond the blue event horizon. Something which
> actually aim at being having some purpose. And I heard it's AFTER
> 20th. And that maybe 20th could provide INPUT to this secret useful
> event. But now I see it's about to be a complete waste, since key
> people are already done, and civil puppets' talk isn't good for
> anything. We can happily tell each other how great we are, how stupid
> the government is, and that better luck next time, insert coin.
>
> *shrug*
>
> > All the best,
>
> Indeed. Somehow.
>
> Have a nice day,
> Peter
>
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