Comments on: More To It http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/ Making things useful, getting stuff done Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:47:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Meriblog: Meri Williams’ Weblog » Make Me A Speaker! http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/comment-page-1/#comment-72310 Meriblog: Meri Williams’ Weblog » Make Me A Speaker! Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:36:57 +0000 http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/#comment-72310 [...] I’d already posted quite a lot as part of the discussion about the diversity of speakers at conferences. One of the things I said I’d like to see happening more was experienced folks mentoring those aspiring to becoming speakers. That thought got quite a good reaction and so as a result today I set up Make Me A Speaker! [...] [...] I’d already posted quite a lot as part of the discussion about the diversity of speakers at conferences. One of the things I said I’d like to see happening more was experienced folks mentoring those aspiring to becoming speakers. That thought got quite a good reaction and so as a result today I set up Make Me A Speaker! [...]

]]> By: Jen Bekman http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/comment-page-1/#comment-72102 Jen Bekman Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:43:28 +0000 http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/#comment-72102 Thanks Meri. This post is really thoughtful and articulates some of the stuff that I haven't been able to suss out on my own. Aside from <a href="http://www.personism.com/2006/10/11/list-of-women-speakers-for-your-conference/" rel="nofollow">the list</a> I've been building since the Fall I'm thinking of having a stock list of rebuttals/defenses to the typical list of justifications and or defenses offered up. A short list - The "we tried but no one said yes" defense - The "are you saying we should just include women because they are just women?" angle (also: tokenism. also: "do you realize how insulting you're being to other women?" - The "all you're doing is whining/bitching/complaining, what's YOUR solution" Any others I'm forgetting? Thanks Meri. This post is really thoughtful and articulates some of the stuff that I haven’t been able to suss out on my own.

Aside from the list I’ve been building since the Fall I’m thinking of having a stock list of rebuttals/defenses to the typical list of justifications and or defenses offered up. A short list

- The “we tried but no one said yes” defense

- The “are you saying we should just include women because they are just women?” angle (also: tokenism. also: “do you realize how insulting you’re being to other women?”

- The “all you’re doing is whining/bitching/complaining, what’s YOUR solution”

Any others I’m forgetting?

]]> By: Elisa Camahort http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/comment-page-1/#comment-72073 Elisa Camahort Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:48:18 +0000 http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/#comment-72073 Great points Meri. I find it ironic for conference organizers to say: "we issue open call for ideas. Don't expect us to know who you are. Come and take the opportunity" all the while being one of many many conferences that now abound. (BlogHer included.) With so many conferences, it is a little bit incumbent on organizers like me to assume that not everyone knows who *we* are. Moreover it is complete fallacy to say most of the conferences in queston get all their speakers from submissions. I know first and secondhand that they do not. And when you see somee of the same so-called "A-Listers" speaking over and over...do you really think they go out seeking each of those engagements? no, they do not. They are sought. Great points Meri.

I find it ironic for conference organizers to say: “we issue open call for ideas. Don’t expect us to know who you are. Come and take the opportunity” all the while being one of many many conferences that now abound. (BlogHer included.) With so many conferences, it is a little bit incumbent on organizers like me to assume that not everyone knows who *we* are.

Moreover it is complete fallacy to say most of the conferences in queston get all their speakers from submissions. I know first and secondhand that they do not.

And when you see somee of the same so-called “A-Listers” speaking over and over…do you really think they go out seeking each of those engagements? no, they do not. They are sought.

]]> By: Ms. Jen http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/comment-page-1/#comment-72066 Ms. Jen Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:00:04 +0000 http://blog.meriwilliams.com/2007/02/26/more-to-it/#comment-72066 Hi Meri, Thank you. While I have tried to write my critique on this in an rational manner, be it in my blog or in comments on other's blogs, there is a WHOLE lot I am not saying. A Whole Lot about what has happened in the past to make me and many other tech women I know gunshy about being the "Tall Poppy". But I think there is enough critical mass to be sick of it. 'nuff said. smiles, jen ;o) Hi Meri,

Thank you. While I have tried to write my critique on this in an rational manner, be it in my blog or in comments on other’s blogs, there is a WHOLE lot I am not saying.

A Whole Lot about what has happened in the past to make me and many other tech women I know gunshy about being the “Tall Poppy”. But I think there is enough critical mass to be sick of it.

’nuff said.

smiles, jen ;o)

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