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Comment by drivebyacct2 | Hacker News Reader

Is it bad that I picture SxSW and groan, and then picture it full of pseudo-nerds who think they're nerds because they own an iPhone and then groan even more?

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I think most of the negative comments are based on people having absolutely no idea about the reality of SXSW. I'm not in a position to spend $950 on a ticket either, so what did I do? Instead of staying home wishing I was there and masquerading that under contempt for the entire festival, I hoped on the StartupBus www.startupbus.com. We drove from LA to Austin and started a company and built a web app in 3 days. I worked with the best team of designers and developers I ever have. On the way there, I pitched to Dave McClure, who told me the beer I brought him was "fucking cold". Once we got to Austin, I met some of the most interesting and accomplished developers, designers and entrepreneurs I ever have. I talked to Eric Ries and pitched him my half baked idea I thought of on the way to the party we met at. How much did my accommodations cost you ask? $35 a night. I snuck into a few events and heard Steve Blank talk about his new book. Hasn't anyone ever seen Boiler Plate? When someone asks you if you are registered for the festival, just "act as if". My point is that you can go down to SXSW for less than a grand and still have amazing networking and learning opportunities. Now if I could only figure out how to make up for all the time I lost prepping for finals :)

EDIT: Dave actually told me the beer was "warm". Sorry for the typo, and thanks to Dave :)

That's not an accurate impression of SXSW. There are many companies and folks there doing fascinating things and solving hard problems. If you just go the panels and hang out at the convention center, you're going to miss out. If you have a personal network that you can tap into and leverage to meet more folks, you get a huge benefit out of SXSW.

> If you just go the panels and hang out at the convention center

[also known as "SXSW"]

> you're going to miss out. If you have a personal network that you can tap into and leverage

[also known as "not SXSW"]

> to meet more folks, you get a huge benefit out of SXSW.

So, in other words, you get a benefit out of SXSW... by not going to SXSW, and doing something else instead.

I do this this is accurate. Going to Austin during SXSW can be really valuable, exciting, and inspiring. Paying for a badge and doing the panel circuit isn't worth the money or time away from what's outside the CC.

Depends how strictly you define "SXSW". Point is that SXSW is a huge networking opportunity whether you go to the panels or not- friends of mine got to chat with staff at Foursquare, Spotify, and all manner of other organisations, just by going to their SXSW "space". There are very few other events that can claim that.

(I mean, where else can you watch Dave Tisch speed-eat grilled cheese sandwiches?)

If you think you have a realistic picture of what happens at SXSW, you're mistaken. Which is bad, I suppose.

So: Yes.

I'm not going to lie, it's more of an eye-roller at the "hip nerd has an iPhone" image that just irks me. I fume at people who (and this has really happened) ask me, "ew, you have an Android, why?!". As my original comment, I've not been to SXSW myself and I was just going off the impression given by the OP article.

That's pretty silly

Negative, uninformed opinion about Android: Bad.

Negative, uninformed opinion about SXSW: Acceptable.

Gotcha.

What do you want me to say? I told you what I was basing my comments on. I even proposed this as an uninformed opinion based on the depictions in the thread, article and what I've gleaned from Twitter.

Instead of correcting me or offering anything to counteract the numerous examples in this thread, you're just being snide.

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