complaints about TAM6

[ottle]

While I had a great time at TAM, I too have to agree with the others above that the A/V and presentation problems were serious, and most frustratingly, entirely avoidable.

I think this is really funny. Not because it's not true, but because I sat there and thought 'wow, they really have done well with the A/V issues this year.' At TAM 4, the A/V issues were so so bad (primarily, I believe, due to the Stardust A/V technicians managing the system via the 'two cans and a string' methodology) that our delays were mostly caused by them. It was horrible.

This year, there were a couple of bad incidents but they were mostly isolated.

I guess my point is, even though there are still issues, believe me, it's getting better exponentially. I think JREF learns from its mistakes and does it better every year.

 

[grayman]

My complaint is that I never plan for extra time to do more things I'd like. For example, I thought at least once that I'd try the swimming pool at the Flamingo, but it's difficult to pull one's self away from the people you meet at TAM.

At least my wife managed to work in a deep-tissue massage at the spa, which mellowed her out almost to the point when we got on the plane.

Which reminds me of an off topic issue: When Hal Bidlack gets elected to Congress, I ask that he please introduce legislation to allow smoking on airlines. I don't smoke, and I do not care at all for tobacco products. BUT, travelling with my wife when she can't have a cigarette for a few hours...just please, for the sake of humanity, let her have a cigarette.

 

[RSLancastr]

What about taking a walk on that third rail and having a discussion about truth v. myth in the area of environmental issues? I saw a lot of head-butting over global warming... why not use our own methods to tease out fact and fiction on that topic?

Gah.

In 2007, the Skeptic Society had an entire weekend conference devoted to this topic.

After two full days of watching various scientists for hours and hours show essentially the same set of slides, I left not knowing a damned thing more than I knew when I got there (and I am by no means well-versed on the subject), and bored out of my frickin' skull. I was not alone in this. Not even close.

Perhaps this is more a problem for the speakers themselves to solve, but a TAM "meet and greet" gathering with hors d'oeuvres the night before the conference starts might solve that (although not all speakers will have arrived)

There was such a gathering, Thursday night at 7pm. There were cokctails and little munchies. Did you miss it, or was it not what you are talking about?

 

[CFLarsen]

Unfortunately this complaint goes back to TAM 2 when Julia Sweeney went long and Dan Garvin had to cut his "how I escaped from Scientology's Sea Org" presentation had to but cut short.

That's not why Dan's presentation was cut short. It was cut short because of the news of the Columbia disaster reached us, and we took an extended break to catch up on the news - e.g., on the quickly set-up TV.

 

[HipNixon]

There was such a gathering, Thursday night at 7pm. There were cokctails and little munchies. Did you miss it, or was it not what you are talking about?

I went to that, but the attendee-presenter ratio was still pretty rich. It was along the right lines, of course. Maybe if we put shock-collars on all the speakers that go off if they get within 5 feet of one another, that way everything will be spread out.

 

[rustypouch]

I also agree that the food left something to be desired.

Other than that, flying US Air. Ugh. What a gongshow.

 

[markb]

That's not why Dan's presentation was cut short. It was cut short because of the news of the Columbia disaster reached us, and we took an extended break to catch up on the news - e.g., on the quickly set-up TV.

I'm certain that the Columbia disaster happened during TAM 1, because I remember having visited the Kennedy Space Center with other conference goers a day or two before it happened.

 

[SezMe]

This should be easy to resolve. Columbia went down on February 1, 2003.

 

[kittynh]

well it's all a bit confusing. I remember the Scientologists talk WAS cut short at TAM1 because of Columbia. But Julia Sweeney was not the first speaker.

I don't know who spoke beforehand.

I do remember that I felt sorry for the Scientologist as he really had an eye opener of a talk. But we were all pretty much in shock, and Hal gave that wonderful off the cuff speech.

So it may be that everyone is a bit confused.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

this Should Be Easy To Resolve. Columbia Went Down On February 1, 2003.

= Tam I

 

[Piggy]

In 2007, the Skeptic Society had an entire weekend conference devoted to this topic.

After two full days of watching various scientists for hours and hours show essentially the same set of slides, I left not knowing a damned thing more than I knew when I got there (and I am by no means well-versed on the subject), and bored out of my frickin' skull. I was not alone in this. Not even close.

2 points here.

First, sounds like it was badly set up, with insufficient attention to the audience's level of expertise and lack of focus on the questions they really needed to have answered.

Second, it's actually enlightening. So here we are, skeptics who so often rail against others who "deny" science and logic... lost in the minutiae of a scientific question and none the better off for hearing the evidence.

I still say I would like to see some time devoted to this. But as your experience demonstrates, the talk(s) would need to be properly focused. (And btw, PZ's talk at certain points had the same effect on me -- I found myself thinking, "Can you skip the more arcane minutiae that's going over my head, give me the gloss, and get to what it means?")

The kinds of questions I'd like to see addressed include:

Which issues have a broad consensus, and which do not?

Broadly speaking, in layman's terms, what sort of investigations were done, and what have they shown?

What are the current "hot" topics that we most need answers to at this point?

Of course, I'd also like to see an even wider lens cast on the general topic of the difference between environmental science and environmental activism, and where the contentions of the latter have outstripped the actual knowledge we have based upon the former -- but it'd be a hard thing to gather a panel to tackle that.

 

[Silly Green Monkey]

My complaint is someone got me sick. My chest is heavy, my trachea hurts all the way to my nasopharynx, and I'm coughing.

I blame you.

 

[Dicon]

I sincerely hope that none of the truly wonderful people organizing and volunteering to make TAM happen take any of my humble suggestions the wrong way.

Mark >> I don't think you have to worry about anyone at JREF taking your suggestions the wrong way. They might, however, not see them here since they are likely still wrapped up in post-TAM activity and probably aren't keeping up with forum chatter.

I'd suggest setting yourself a calendar reminder for six months from now, and at that time sending everything you already said directly to Jeff.

And thanks for breakfast Saturday morning! That was Saturday, wasn't it?

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

That's not why Dan's presentation was cut short. It was cut short because of the news of the Columbia disaster reached us, and we took an extended break to catch up on the news - e.g., on the quickly set-up TV.

I'm certain that the Columbia disaster happened during TAM 1, because I remember having visited the Kennedy Space Center with other conference goers a day or two before it happened.

Julia was at TAM 2, Garvin was at TAM 1 and I was conflating the two. Thanks for correcting my faulty memory.

 

[elaine]

My other complaint. I wasn't organized enough to have another chick day with RSL's Better Half and Kittynh. Still my favorite TAM5.5 memory.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

My complaint is someone got me sick. My chest is heavy, my trachea hurts all the way to my nasopharynx, and I'm coughing.

I blame you.

I wish you'd mentioned this. I had a jar of Vicks Vaporub and I know how to use it.

 

[Geek Goddess]

My complaint is someone got me sick. My chest is heavy, my trachea hurts all the way to my nasopharynx, and I'm coughing.

I blame you.

I hate that you are sick, but I'm collecting stories. I got rather sick early Friday morning and my (smart ass) son Travis accused me of being hung over. Then, my friend Eric got sick. Kittynh got sick. You did. I think there was a bit of a bug going around.

 

[elaine]

I was sick for a couple of days. Not sure if it was a cold or too much canned air and smokey areas.

GG...was there evidence of a hangover?

 

[Geek Goddess]

I was sick for a couple of days. Not sure if it was a cold or too much canned air and smokey areas.

GG...was there evidence of a hangover?

I don't get hung over on two glasses of wine. However, Travis is a liar, regardless.

 

[MarkRandall]

Mark >> I don't think you have to worry about anyone at JREF taking your suggestions the wrong way. They might, however, not see them here since they are likely still wrapped up in post-TAM activity and probably aren't keeping up with forum chatter.

I'd suggest setting yourself a calendar reminder for six months from now, and at that time sending everything you already said directly to Jeff.

And thanks for breakfast Saturday morning! That was Saturday, wasn't it?

Thanks, I'll do that. Yep it was Saturday morning (too early!). It was great to meet you guys. The only thing lacking at breakfast was, well, the breakfast part. Next time let's shoot for less surly service! Looking forward to it...