[Zenst]

Next it will be smart phones which can do many of the things these devices can do when rooted the right model.

Not hard to make a walking stick that can do wireless shenanigans, that gets overlooked by all.

Oh well, be mobile free zoning soon at this rate.

[hnlmorg]

If your walking stick looks like it will be used as a weapon then you can safely assume you’ll have it removed upon entry.

Events like these will have disclaimers like “admittance is subject to the discretion of our security staff”.

The point of the list of prohibited items is to make it easier for attendees to know the kinds of items theyre allowed to bring. What it isn’t, is an exhaustive list of anything that could be used for bad intentions.

[Zenst]

Nobody going to take a walking stick of an old man or some disabled person using it to walk, not unless it looks like it can pull apart into a sword. But security today and discretion does leave much in the wind.

They should have just said any computers other than mobile phones, by drilling down they enable security to fail at their job as people could bring another SBC and go its not a raspberry Pi and that highlights the crux.

Concern is this sets a standard moving forward that does not single out one SBC from others unfairly, which is what they are doing here.

[hnlmorg]

> Nobody going to take a walking stick of an old man or some disabled person using it to walk, not unless it looks like it can pull apart into a sword.

Which is just a more verbose way of saying exactly what I said ;)

> They should have just said any computers other than mobile phones, by drilling down they enable security to fail at their job as people could bring another SBC and go its not a raspberry Pi and that highlights the crux.

That would cause problems for reporters bringing laptops.

What you’re missing is that this is a tech forum filled with a tech-literate people and a higher than average number of autistic and other neurological tendencies to be “technically correct”. Which isn’t who the target audience of the inauguration party will be.

Their messaging is fine for the people it’s targeted for. It wouldn’t be fine for a Defcon event, but this isn’t that.

> Concern is this sets a standard moving forward that does not single out one SBC from others unfairly, which is what they are doing here.

Different parties have different admittance codes. Some will list drugs, some will list attire (eg no trainers), some will say “no food or drink” while others might say “no disposable bbqs”. This isn’t any different to any other party or location which have their own rules for entry.

You might be right that this sets a precedence, but Occam’s Razor suggests you’re over reacting given the nature of the event and its target audience

[JumpCrisscross]

> Nobody going to take a walking stick of an old man

Okay Gandalf :)

[Zenst]

Gandalf used a staff and the one I knew never used one :)

[armchairhacker]

We really should ban phones at events like concerts and parties, where people don't want to be recorded, people on their phones dull the vibe...

A mayoral inauguration? Personally I wouldn't ban it, but like rPIs, I don't see why it's a big deal either way. Your event, your rules (within reason).

[robocat]

People are dangerous - maybe just ban them.

People are disease vectors: children are especially horrifying.

[Zenst]

Ah yes 2020, we know it so well.