Breasts and the Badge Check

Anybody who’s ever been to any conference about anything knows about the badge check. This is the subtle peak everybody takes at other attendees badge, to see who they are and where they’re from. Everybody does it, but there’s something of a conspiracy of silence about it.

Many conferences (including the recent BBS), provide badges that are hung around the neck on a lanyard. Often, these badges hang right at bosom-level. So, inevitably, in checking out a badge, you also appear to be checking out a rack.

I was commiserating about this among some of my more sensitive male colleagues (and Kris and Will). While we’re aware of the clip-on badge that solves this problem, we were trying to invent more fun ways to displaying your name and affiliation. Will suggested having half on each forearm, so that you could put them together in front of you like a superhero. I suggested the back of your head or neck, like that party game where you’re labelled as a famous person and must determine which one you are. Somebody suggested the belt, but that introduces another set of issues, doesn’t it?