2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
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@-party
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2014-04-26 11:54:15 -04:00
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/atpar`tee/ , n. [from the @-sign in an Internet address] (alt.: @-sign
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party /atsi:n par`tee/ ) A semi-closed party thrown for hackers at a
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science-fiction convention (esp. the annual World Science Fiction Convention
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or Worldcon ); one must have a network address to get in, or at least be in
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company with someone who does. One of the most reliable opportunities for
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hackers to meet face to face with people who might otherwise be represented
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by mere phosphor dots on their screens. Compare boink. The first recorded
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@-party was held at the Westercon (a U.S. western regional SF convention)
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over the July 4th weekend in 1980. It is not clear exactly when the
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canonical @-party venue shifted to the Worldcon but it had certainly become
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established by Constellation in 1983. Sadly, the @-party tradition has been
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in decline since about 1996, mainly because having an @-address no longer
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functions as an effective lodge pin. We are informed, however, that
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rec.skydiving members have maintained a tradition of formation jumps in the
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shape of an @.
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