David Thorpe wrote:Isn't it at least worth a try, perhaps starting at Scalefour North next year? If that happens I might actually go.
This is getting a bit surreal. Are you saying that your decision to go or not go is based on people wearing name badges? I know, you could volunteer to man the badges desk!
At professional conferences everyone usually has badges, but that analogy doesn't work, mainly because the list of delegates is known in advance and everyone can scan the list to see who is there and who to seek out (or avoid). But you do end up with a lot of squinting at lapels during the first coffee break.
Having a photo library of members is not a bad idea (including having them as avatars on here) but not everyone is comfortable doing that, sometimes for entirely valid professional reasons.
So what are the name badges for exactly? For those who are not Society officers, this could be:
1) This person writes or posts a lot, and I'm curious to know what they look like. I'm sure we have all been there. But is that reason enough?
2) I like what this person has done and I'd like to meet them to say so.
3) I don't understand what this person has done and I'd like to ask about/discuss it.
For 2) and 3), you could contact them beforehand by PM, email or letter and arrange to meet, assuming they are themselves going. Or ask at the Society stand - they might be able to put out a PA.
Also don't forget that a significant proportion of visitors to our events are not members who might be a bit non-plussed by it all or even wrongly criticised for not wearing a badge.