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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 91
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 07:27 am: | 
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Panel Discussion Information
http://www.qbr.com/hbf2004/panels.htm |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 392
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 10:13 am: |
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Troy,
As I (often) watch assorted panel discussions on the 'CSpans', I can't help being skeptical of their relative benefit. What do you think is or should be the primary end result(s) of these meetings? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 332
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 11:04 am: |
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Abm:
Why are you skeptical of their relative benefit? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 395
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 01:16 pm: |
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Chris,
Well, it seems like these days, everybody is having a conference and/or seminar about SOMETHING. They have become a sort of vogue activity for the literary and intellectual sets.
So as I observe the LEGION of conferences/seminars, I can't help wondering whether these are sincere efforts to engage in healthy, enlightening discussions/exchanges of legitimate/relevant information, problems and solutions?
Or are they solely convenient networking and marketing tools for authors, politicians, the media, social activists, etc.
And what comes of most of these conferences? There's all this talk, debates, philosophizing, praising, clapping, etc...then there is often appears to be little if anything to come of it.
For example, Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner sponsors/hosts an annual 2 - 3 day program (I forget the programs title.) that invites many of the most esteemed Blacks of all fields of endeavors to provide commentary about our most pressing socio-economic issues.
I appreciate what Smiley/Joyner appear to be attempting to do.
However, over the years, it seems the program invariably degenerates into a Black intellectual 'peprally' of sorts where all the commentators are all trying to out-perform each other for the entertainment of the program attendees. And I have never seen an offering of a program transcript and/or explicit recommendations and actions plans to follow the Smiley/Joyner's programs.
So it is for those reasons that I question the worth of programs like those Troy references to. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 337
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 01:51 pm: |
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Abm:
I would suggest they are, like those programs put together and held by white folks of all stripes and avocations, a mixture of entertainment, self promotion, networking, etc.
I think you are expecting too much from them. After all what recommendation and action plan can come from a panel discussion lasting only a few hours at most, where you might be able to ask one question, which they can devote a couple of minutes to before they move on to the next one?
Bascially it is a chance to hear and see the participants and from this determine if you'd like to read their books or hear an in depth speech by them or attend a class they teach, etc.
It is like a smorgasbord.
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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 92
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 11:26 pm: |
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Question: What do you think is or should be the primary end result(s) of these meetings?
Answer: The members of the audience comes away knowing mopre that they knew before the panel started. Perhaps they are exposed to a new perspective or view point. Panels can also be a motivator if you see others suceeding at something you are trying to accomplish.
Panels can provide many benefits, however they are not a substitute for study, and they are not venues for problem solving -- shoot a good panel may leave you with more questions than answers.
The one thng I hate about panels are the "question" and "answer" session, usually reserved for the end. They should call them the "diatribe" and "self promotion" session. Give people a mike and an audience and they just lose their minds. A poor moderator will just let that continue. Oooohhh I hate that...
As an aside, I once attended a panel moderated by Kalamu ya Salaam, actually, it was at Blackwords 360 Event http://events.aalbc.com/poetry.htm after Kalamu introduced the panelists he asked everyone in the audience about 50 people, or so, to introduce themselves and say something about who they were. At first, I was like "oh brother, this is gonna take all day. I want to hear the panelists, not these miscellaneous folks". However when it was over I saw what an impressive room of people I was in. I was glad he did that. I'd never seen anyone do that before or since. I believe it also had the effect of eliminating the need for the time wasting commericals and rants enbedded where questions should be.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 404
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 11:16 am: |
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Thanks Chris & Troy.
You both make some points that are worth noting. I guess I am not as much a critic of seminars/conferences per sa as I am a skeptic of meetings in general. I have endured TOO MANY instances where hours/days have been wasted discussing issues that are never properly addressed largely because no one identifies/executes any real plan of action sorts.
I agree that seminars/conferences can not provide full, viable discovery/solution to our most exigent issues. But I have found the best, most productive gatherings will yield a clear, concrete 'product' (e.g., written/audio/video transcript, references, intinerary, mailing list, etc.) of some sort.
I too decry the "diatribe" and "self-promotion" sessions. I suppose that is why some seminars/conferences will ask the attendees to write their questions on paper and permit only the host (or assistant) to read their questions to the panelists.
Troy - and I guess it depends on your profession/business - I have attended many seminars/conferences where the host/speaker asks the attendees to (briefly) introduce themselves. And I agree that this has often has enhanced the discourse, although this works best when there's enough time alloted in the meeting for the attendees to clearly/succinctly introduce themselves. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 343
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 11:31 am: |
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Troy:
I hate those meetings where they start out with introducing everybody in the damn room. I don't go to no meetings to meet those other people in the room. This must be a black thang. I have gone to meetings where we all knew everybody and they started out, "Shall we introduce ourselves?" I think the next time I go and they ask me my name I'm gonna say, "Puddin Tame! Ask me again I'll tell you the same! What are you, a cop or something?"
But I digress--
The question and answer sessions I have found the most helpful and fruitful, usually because I have had one question that I wanted answered and got a chance to get it. Really, the diatribe and self promotion was usually engaged in by the panel members, which is ok, it is their floor, their time and if they want to use it that way, that's fine.
If a person from the audience tries to horn in with a diatribe, I think it is the fault of the moderator or presenter, who should cut that stuff off, tell 'em to take it outside or take it up with the person privately. One thing about these things is that they are run too loosely, the moderator and presenters act helpless when the panel members go over time or veer off subject or somebody from the audience makes a speech. Cut them off, reign them in. You know how black folks are!
I look on these things as fun. A lot better than sitting around with some bums in a bar lying about how many women we been with or arguing about who is the greatest, Michael Jordan, Magic or Kobe. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 408
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 12:17 pm: |
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Chris,
Attendee introductions are hardly a "black thang". In most of such meetings I have attended, I was among few, if any, other African American. I think in some situations this is a great way to gauge the attendee so that the host/panel can perhaps adjust their presentation/delivery to that of the 'caliber' of the audience. I agree though if everybody already knows everybody, what's the point of an obligatory mini-bio session.
I also agree that lengthy "diatribe" sessions can be effectively curbed by a forceful moderator/host. I think though hosts fear appearing so stringent that they possibly insult their audience and inhibit informative, lively discourse.
And to answer your 1) "...how many women we been with..." and 2) "...who is the greatest, Michael Jordan, Magic or Kobe.":
1) Not NEARLY as many as I would have like too.
2) I would draft Jordan if I wanted the best individual player, select Magic if I want to win a Championship...and pick Kobe to teach my team what NOT to do when while vacationing in Colorado. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 692
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 02:03 pm: |
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I've always considered these hot-air fests as a kind of verbal "you got served." |
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