RSA: Ban On Booth Babes Has Been No Big Deal (networkworld.com)

netbuzz quotes a report from Network World: In March 2015, RSA Conference organizers made news by contractually insisting that vendors pitch their security wares without the help of "booth babes," a first such ban for the technology industry. Next week's event will be third under the new rules. With the use of "booth babes" long a source of contention -- and some would say embarrassment -- implementation of the ban has gone smoothly, according to RSA. "Overall I would say this has been received well by our exhibitors," says Sandra Toms, vice president and curator of the conference. "Several have thanked us for having a policy." If you compare the policy's contract language in 2015 with the language now used by Toms, you'll notice how much it has evolved and how it has been accepted by various stake-holders. Here's an excerpt from the "short Q&A" between Paul McNamara, news editor for Network World, and Toms: Has there been any need to enforce the code or have all exhibitors complied? "Enforce" always makes it sound like armed guards have come into play and dragged someone off the show floor. We share these guidelines with our exhibitors and we're clear that this is a policy that is expected to be acknowledged and complied with. We take our attendee experience seriously and expect our exhibitors to do the same. If we receive a complaint about a particular exhibitor, we will send someone over to the booth and examine the situation. If the attire matches our dress code, then they can proceed and we can explain to the attendee why that form of dress is allowed. If they are clearly in violation, we will ask them to change. This policy is equally applied to both men and women -- from Sumo wrestlers to scantily clad models.

Comments

Good. Sex and Computers dont mix

[sciengin]

I am usually not someone who agrees with the autistic screeching of the Social Justice Warriors, but I make an exception here.
Technology conferences should be about technology, not naked chicks. Let them wiggle their behind on a sex expo or car show if they want.
A real geek will be at the conference for the content, not the presentation anyway. The only ones who could be lured by babes are probably the salesmen and other non-IT people

Re: Alternative to ban

[Ol Olsoc]

In a strange way - it is taking away jobs.

The purpose of employment is the production of goods and services, not "keeping people busy". Elimination of unproductive jobs is a GOOD THING, since it allows those people to be employed elsewhere doing something that actually makes sense.

So when you retire, are you going to demand to be euthanized because of your lack of productivity? I'm retired, and the only thing I'm adding to the economy is spending money, so by your definition I need to be eliminated - granted, probably a popular mood on new slashdot.

Regardless, your concept of eliminating jobs that are not productive is interesting, and if the logical place is to start with booth babes - Sounds legit.

Will we soon be banning attractive women because they are attractive?? Or strictly enforcing a dress code?

RTFA. It is a dress code.

These women are not performing illegal sexual favors, sex acts for the attendees, and are not nude. A dress code to eliminate the concept of - oh hell, what is it supposed to eliminate - men showing interest in an attractive woman, or women wanting attractive women to be punished? Will we be demanding that waitresses in bars dress in a manner that is not attractive to anyone? Seriously, I was at a beach bar this evening, and the waitresses were wearing tight jeans and t-shirts, and a number of them I found quite fetching. If they were in skimpy outfits, I would likely have ignored them. And a lot of guys are like that. But that's just them and me, These tight jeans and T-Shirts are kinda revealing, and sexy in their own way. We better get on this right away - perhaps make them wear flimsy burnooses? Maybe the bar should just use male staff. Can't afford to offend anyone.