Lake Geneva and BIQ
Jun. 24th, 2004 02:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
joshwritingAt least 17 people with LJs attended BIQ Chicago this year. Reading about it in them is like reading about people's parties - while they have intended to describe the same event, the posts seem to describe very different events from person to person.
The part of me that knows that there is no such thing as objectivity enjoys the game of Telephone aspects of all this. "That's not what I said." "That was not what I told you she said." "That's what I heard!"
Only a small, wry part.
Some general thoughts...
If a person whom you are used to seeing behave in one way suddenly seems to be going in a different direction, rather than assuming that the person is no longer worthy of your consideration, assume that she may have a reason, even if you do not know what it is or was.
If you go somewhere with the intention of being disruptive, don't be surprised if the folks whom you are disrupting do not take you seriously.
Protesting that "people who are fearful should just stand up for themselves" is indicative of a missed point.
Insisting that an issue is a general issue when major participants are not present suggests to folks that it is less general than you wish to claim - even if the folks have intentionally exited.
Sugesting that we should drastically expand the offerings of the YA program, using a large group of volunteers is a fine notion - and good for a before bed chuckle.
The suggestion that we should not permit anybody past puberty (yes, including the parents) attend our conferences has merit. Maybe not for practical issues, but for amusement...
Designating a person as evil is evil. Lying to oneself is normal. Lying to others is venal. Lying to others when you know that the person about whom you are lying can't read what you are saying? Political.
The idea that it is not your fault that you did nothing has to be a very funny thought. And good luck on your conference!
Next year in...? Memphis seems a bit less likely than it did. San Antonio, San Francisco... hmm - maybe I should only do places that start with San?!
All well and good to criticize the YA program from '04 (or '03), but what should we do instead? Or as well?
And is having folks who are coming solely to see one or two individuals a problem? Or does it need a different registration... "Adult, Kid, YA, and Guest of semi-famous net personality!"
maybe "Attending, Attending but promises not to get anything out of it, Kid, and Wanna go skinny dipping?"
Needs some work...
On Silent Football: As I told Mr. Dictator-for-Life, any activity in which some of the participants felt that they could not speak up for fear of the reaction against them is an activity that is not going to fly in that environment. And, while I know that several folks have expressed the belief to me that nobody SHOULD have felt that way, more than one person did.
It was two at the time. That number has climbed.
While there has been a call to "ban Josh from running conferences," that is not happening - and nobody in a position to do something abou tit is in favor of the notion... That does not mean that I find it other than objectionable.
Ah well, sleep beckons...
The part of me that knows that there is no such thing as objectivity enjoys the game of Telephone aspects of all this. "That's not what I said." "That was not what I told you she said." "That's what I heard!"
Only a small, wry part.
Some general thoughts...
If a person whom you are used to seeing behave in one way suddenly seems to be going in a different direction, rather than assuming that the person is no longer worthy of your consideration, assume that she may have a reason, even if you do not know what it is or was.
If you go somewhere with the intention of being disruptive, don't be surprised if the folks whom you are disrupting do not take you seriously.
Protesting that "people who are fearful should just stand up for themselves" is indicative of a missed point.
Insisting that an issue is a general issue when major participants are not present suggests to folks that it is less general than you wish to claim - even if the folks have intentionally exited.
Sugesting that we should drastically expand the offerings of the YA program, using a large group of volunteers is a fine notion - and good for a before bed chuckle.
The suggestion that we should not permit anybody past puberty (yes, including the parents) attend our conferences has merit. Maybe not for practical issues, but for amusement...
Designating a person as evil is evil. Lying to oneself is normal. Lying to others is venal. Lying to others when you know that the person about whom you are lying can't read what you are saying? Political.
The idea that it is not your fault that you did nothing has to be a very funny thought. And good luck on your conference!
Next year in...? Memphis seems a bit less likely than it did. San Antonio, San Francisco... hmm - maybe I should only do places that start with San?!
All well and good to criticize the YA program from '04 (or '03), but what should we do instead? Or as well?
And is having folks who are coming solely to see one or two individuals a problem? Or does it need a different registration... "Adult, Kid, YA, and Guest of semi-famous net personality!"
maybe "Attending, Attending but promises not to get anything out of it, Kid, and Wanna go skinny dipping?"
Needs some work...
On Silent Football: As I told Mr. Dictator-for-Life, any activity in which some of the participants felt that they could not speak up for fear of the reaction against them is an activity that is not going to fly in that environment. And, while I know that several folks have expressed the belief to me that nobody SHOULD have felt that way, more than one person did.
It was two at the time. That number has climbed.
While there has been a call to "ban Josh from running conferences," that is not happening - and nobody in a position to do something abou tit is in favor of the notion... That does not mean that I find it other than objectionable.
Ah well, sleep beckons...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-06-24 01:16 am (UTC)WHO WAS SKINNY DIPPING AND WHY WASN'T I INVITED???
I mean, seriously. Considering the amount of time I spend naked in a lake, I'd think if people were going they'd consider inviting me.
Just saying...
no subject
Date: 2004-06-24 08:09 pm (UTC)They probably figured that if they went, you would find them... besides, you must admit, going into a lake nude - but wearing shoes - would just look silly. Zebra mussels or not!
Oh - I am told it was intentional... nvm.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-24 04:55 am (UTC)Since I will prolly help out in some capacity in the future, I am interested and amused at your observations. Well, I'm sure I'd be amused by the observations anyway.
As to YA session issues... what WAS offered? and how young is young? I mean, it's a little tough since you run the line of trying to interesting and resourceful, and also try to keep hands busy. I know as a small person I hated going to things and feeling like I was just being given busy-work, so... in order to give some constructive feedback I'd like to know what did happen in that aspect.
Hrmm... San places next year. (contemplates what that might mean in driving time and who I can visit in conjunction with that)
Actually, I have lots of thoughts on logistics, planning etc, but it'll prolly be easier to sit down with you sometime when you can actually show me some stuff and talk about it. (because I like that kind of planning stuff, for some weird and probably sadistic reason)
My two favorite points, which anyone should consider in the larger life context:
This was also something that came up all the time in Philosophy Lounge at ESP stuff. It's a very valid point that I find very doggone difficult to get across to people that I am usually throwing comments along those lines at. (if that made sense)
Anyhow, *hugs* and I hope to hear more.
And I don't think you shouldn't run conferences. I know I shouldn't because, as you put it, i am too much of a brinksman. Actually, I just finished reading a book that pointed out to me what I DO like to do... I like to work on user interface stuff. Fun, interesting, and if I do the job right then I'm not really needed once I'm done for anything other than emergencies.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-24 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-24 03:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-27 03:34 pm (UTC)And frankly, Josh, I'm not sure why it'd be a problem. I recruited people to come to your conference; they benefited from it. Isn't that a good thing? It was the same thing that I did with Troy, only I did it with more than one person.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-27 08:40 pm (UTC)You were not the only semi-famous net-personailty for whom somebody attended.
And yes, as far as I can tell, many of the folks whom you invited got worthwhile things out of it - and some are continuing to do so. And others got worthwhile experiences and informationa nd ideas from those folks.
Please do not misread that, Natalie - it was partially sardonic in response to complaints I received of one sort. And partially sardonic in response to complaints heard of another sort.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-25 07:38 am (UTC)The issue is one of convenience. I am a man of extremely limited funds (as of this moment, in fact, due to a bank error not in my favor, I am a man of negative funds), and find I cannot afford to fly out to the various locations the conferences are held at. If there's anything in place to help me with that, I'd like to know, and, if not, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know when there'll be one in my area (around Washington DC).
no subject
Date: 2004-06-25 10:14 am (UTC)But even the Boston area conferences are accessible by car, as a lot of folks from near the DC area do that. And we do let folks of limited means participate... and have even subsidized that on occasion, resources permitting.
The BWI/Philly conference is likely to be Columbus day weekend of 2005 would be my bet. But there is a good conference listing at www.hoagiesgifted.org or you can follow the discussion about them at http://beyondiq.proboards21.com/index.cgi if you wish.
Either way, I look forward to meeting you at some point down the road.
San Antonio in Winter
Date: 2004-06-27 09:08 am (UTC)Things to think about:
Feb 4-20 is the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo
Mar 11-20 is South by Southwest in Austin (1.2 hours away)
And if you go to TX, I will go, and you can twist my arm into doing YA activities.
I also may be able to arrange a tour of NASA (3 hours away).
-Pamela
no subject
Date: 2004-06-27 12:14 pm (UTC)*raises hand* I'd like to go next year...
-Wings
New LJ
Date: 2004-07-03 08:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-27 01:56 pm (UTC)