Besides being entertaining, some of these tactics could also be ethically and practically useful. How many times have you been made to feel uncomfortable being somewhere you had a right to be?
Maybe you really are meeting friends at an exclusive restaurant, but the host is eyeing you suspiciously as you walk in.
Maybe you left your conference badge at the hotel, but didn't realize it was required for the afterparty.
Maybe you were asked to speak at a meetup, but the doorperson is asking for $10 in pizza money even though you already ate.
Learning how to look and act like you own the place can save you confrontation, keep things running smoothly, and lead to the same kinds of awesome as in the article - without swindling any charities.
One of my mentors is the organizer of an invite-only meetup which I really wanted to go to, and while he did add me at the last second to the invite list, I didn't get a badge. I simply acted as if I belonged (which I did), and I got by security, into the afterparty, etc.
I do believe the blog author crossed the line, but I also feel it's forgiveable/acceptable as an experiment, but not as something repeatable.
Maybe you really are meeting friends at an exclusive restaurant, but the host is eyeing you suspiciously as you walk in.
Maybe you left your conference badge at the hotel, but didn't realize it was required for the afterparty.
Maybe you were asked to speak at a meetup, but the doorperson is asking for $10 in pizza money even though you already ate.
Learning how to look and act like you own the place can save you confrontation, keep things running smoothly, and lead to the same kinds of awesome as in the article - without swindling any charities.