> I certainly respect your point of view. That is precisely why I expressed the opinion that holding the DevCon in Las Vegas and, consequently, deciding to attend or not would be a matter of personal feelings and values.

I hope my message also made it clear that I was expressing my point of view, not some absolute.

> Personally, I know that there are some conferences where I never leave the host hotel for the entire visit. Unfortunately, that MAY say more about my social skills than the need to experience the surrounding area.

No, I think it's about conferences, not you. I've been to a lot of cities in the last 10 years on the FoxPro conference circuit. I've seen very little of most of those cities. In some cases, that's a shame. In others (Milwaukee comes to mind <g>), it's no big deal.

The reality for me is that when I go to a Fox conference, my goal is to learn something and to spend time with people I only see three or four times a year (fewer in some cases). I'd love to see the sights as well, but the people come first.

> My suspicions are such that on such a Las Vegas conference that anyone, so desiring, could very easily manage to enjoy the benefits of a fine resort (nice rooms, swimming, all manners of gormet restaurants, shopping, possibly some first rate entertainment) WITHOUT ever setting foot in a casino.

Probably, but if hotels in Vegas are configured like those in Atlantic City, then you really can't avoid seeing people gambling because the public spaces in the hotels have slot machines and the like.

It's hard for me to explain this in words, but walking through a hotel lobby where people are gambling leaves me feeling truly awful. The sight of all those people who think they're just one coin away from financial freedom, but are actually throwing their money away, just horrifies me. (Yes, I understand that some people gamble only discretionary income, and know how to stop.) I walk away feeling unclean (and not just from the cigarette smoke).

I do understand that others feel differently. Just wanted to express an alternate opinion.

Tamar