> Apparently, if you give most technical conference attendees the option (and venue, drinks, transport, etc), they will opt for going drinking in environments not suited for conversation.
And your conclusion from this is that conference organizers should give people less of what they want?
Perhaps you are as serious and focused as you are advocating here, but I think you might find that a lot of people want a bit more than just sitting in an auditorium "talking usefully about the actual conference topic" to make the trip fun. If a conference devolves into pure binge drinking and partying, then yes, I can understand your concern. But some amount of partying is a legitimate draw for people and it fills seats. That's just the way it goes.
And your conclusion from this is that conference organizers should give people less of what they want?
Perhaps you are as serious and focused as you are advocating here, but I think you might find that a lot of people want a bit more than just sitting in an auditorium "talking usefully about the actual conference topic" to make the trip fun. If a conference devolves into pure binge drinking and partying, then yes, I can understand your concern. But some amount of partying is a legitimate draw for people and it fills seats. That's just the way it goes.