[Web4lib] Attending/Presenting at conferences in difficult times

[Ratledge, David]

Hi everyone!

I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all answer to this issue. I
think what works best for any particular person is going to be primarily
determined by individual personality. Just as some people feel they
learn better in group classroom situations while others feel they learn
better through independent study, some are going to have a more
productive conference experience in face-to-face encounters while some
will have a more productive experience in virtual encounters.

Using my own introverted cave-dwelling self as an example, I have had
wonderful and productive face-to-face encounters at conferences, but I
find that I am quicker to open up and introduce myself and have
conversations in a virtual environment. Although I have never kept
score, I suspect if I did I would find that I more consistently have
better experiences virtually than I do in person. 

Regardless of the environment, whatever helps the individuals involved
make as many connections as possible is the first thing that has to
happen. After that many other variables then determine how good any
particular connection turns out to be.



-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jon Knight
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 4:57 AM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Attending/Presenting at conferences in difficult
times

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010, Jean Hewlett wrote:
> Robert, I'm going to assume you are playing devil's advocate here.

I don't know whether Robert was playing devil's advocate or not, but I 
have to say it was refreshing hearing someone say what I often feel.  In

days of yore I attended various workshops/exhibitions/conferences.  Yes,
I 
did learn things and I met some interesting folk (and watched some of
them 
get drunk in expensive bars! ;-) ).  But often not as many, or as
useful, 
as if I'd just carved the two or three days out of my schedule and sat 
researching trends and interesting topics on the web.

For one thing when you're at a conference with a couple of hundred
people 
you're only going to be exposed to at most a couple of hundred sets of 
ideas or opinions - usually far far less as you rarely end up talking to

everyone.  A decent search on the web and in the literature can cover a 
far wider range.  And some times the "face-to-face"-ness of a physical 
conference can get in the way of the communication: people who are 
obnoxious and overbearing in person can still have worthwhile ideas that

are often better communicated in writing.

I've also "attended" meetings and conferences remotely using video 
conferencing technologies and I've found that a useful alternative on 
occasion.  If nothing else one can record the media streams, which can
be 
useful to check back on what someone *really* said in their
presentation. 
;-)

I now actively avoid going to remote meetings and events where I can.  I

know that some folk here still think this is odd - and I'm happy to
"hold 
the fort" whilst they go off - but for me personally this is a far more 
productive, cost effective and environmentally friendly use of my time.

I'm glad I'm not a lone voice anymore. :-)


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