Slashdot Mirror
Comdex Lets Teen Execs Attend
reflector writes "It looks like Comdex got enough flack over not letting the teen execs of Matrixcubed in the door that they've backed off (see Thursday's Slashdot ). There's an
article in Wired." Good to see this happen, even if you want to argue that Comdex shouldn't have tried to keep out the Matrixcubed guys in the first place.
In an effort to bring more young people into Comdex, they've just announced a 'Comdex Jr.' convention. It'll consist of a fold-up poker table, virgin margaritas, and lots of promises starting with the phrase, "When I grow up..."
That part of Comdex was been booted out (for bad press, arrests, etc), and has become their own convention. AdultDex. AdultDex is held seperately from Comdex, at a different hotel somewhere else in town.
Also, I've noticed that a good portion of the vendors are becoming more friendly to showcasing their products to the late teen set. Comdex has helped this trend by dropping the age limit to 18 from 21.
Creative Labs and other "gamer" companies have created gamer friendly booths. Heck, 3 years ago Creative let conventioneers play Quake for prizes.
At last year's Comdex, 3dFx had a 1v1 competition in Quake 2 against Thresh.
So, why would some vendors be hawking to a younger audience? Sales. Capture their attention, show off all the bells and whistles, and get them to buy your sound card, video card, game, etc, etc.
Just like tobacco companies. Get 'em young and keep em for life. *g*
Comdex has bowed to the mob for years now. This incident just showcases it.
Call on God, but row AWAY from the rocks!
Of course, I personally believe that you shouldn't go by what's legal or illegal, but what's right or wrong. Unfortunately, the law doesn't care about ethics.
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"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
Quine "quine?
Heh, right after I posted that, AOC started to load just fine. Typical. :P Never mind about that theory; Nevada's AOC is 16.
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"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
Quine "quine?
I got into comdex when I was 16. Just grow a bit of a beard, look and act professional, and it will all be cool. Then again, I went to the one in chicago, not he Las Vegas one. LV are probably the national experts on checking people's ages ;).
It's not enough just to let this guy in because he had a company, money, and some press contacts to help him. The next 17 year old they won't let in could be an open source developer without a company to his name but a damn bit more important to the computer industry.
Comdex should probably get over it's illusions that the only things that matter to the industry are men in suits.
That said I can't see what a seventeen year old is doing running a company. In ten years he'll regret not getting laid, drunk, and high like his peers.
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People, we are talking about Comdex - a COMPUTER convention (Read - the biggest assembly of nerds of the year).
How did sex ever enter into the picture?
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grappler
Vidi, Vici, Veni
17-year-old Comdex attendee charged with public drunkenness, solicitations of prostitutes.
I've dealt with this guy and his "company". We started to find unauthorized charges to our credit card and this guy swore up and down that *we* were wrong. Only after we threatened to sue him and report him to the state attorney general did he credit back the unauthorized charges. No excuse or apology was offered.
What about liability, how can you enter into a legally binding contract with a 17 year old? Would you trust the security of your web site to a kid? 17 year old kids should be working at McDonald's learning customer service, not running internet companies.
If you're looking for a web hosting service, stay away from MatrixCubed, I would have, had I known the guy was 17.