the kinds of programmers who buy extended warranties and self-help books and believe their bosses genuinely care about them as people, the kinds of programmers who attend conferences to make friends
One of these things is not like the others. I have made many, many friends at programming conferences. I am not sure why you wouldn't expect this to happen.
I agree with you, especially with regard to open source related conferences (I've made great friends at PyCon); but perhaps there's a difference at the more old-fashioned corporate conferences?
Yeah, I didn't understand that either. Maybe it's because I'm a weirdo, but the main reason I go to tech conferences is to make friends, who inevitably turn into business partners and clients.
the kinds of programmers who buy extended warranties and self-help books and believe their bosses genuinely care about them as people, the kinds of programmers who attend conferences to make friends
One of these things is not like the others. I have made many, many friends at programming conferences. I am not sure why you wouldn't expect this to happen.