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Post-TAM9 Thoughts

I hate to say it, since TAM9 was apparently absolutely awesome for so many. but for me, and

for what are mostly probably egocentric reasons, TAM9 did not measure up to most of my

previous TAMs (I've attended all USA TAMs since TAM4).

Here's a rundown of the TAMs I've attended, and notes on which made each of them sprcial (to

me):

TAM4 - Jan 26-29, 2006 - Las Vegas, NV -
Notes: My first TAM! Met lots of forumites, and Randi!
I presented my Sunday Paper "Stopping Kaz: One Skeptic's Experience Using the Internet to Debunk a Religious Con-artist" I had never even seen a paper presentation before, and there I was, presenting one! It was pretty well-received.

TAM5 - Jan 18-21, 2007 - Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - Skepticism And The Media
Notes: This was the TAM when all Hell broke loose regarding my StopSylvia site. I was interviewed for an article in the New York Post, by Penn Jillette for his radio show, and appeared on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360. which was shown on the big screen on stage before the TAM attendees. A very surreal week for me.

TAM5.5 - Jan 26, 2008 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Skepticism And Activism
Notes: I was one of only six speakers (including Randi!) I spoke about my Stop Sylvia experiences, and of my hopes for future Stop Sites.

TAM6 - Jun 19-22, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV - Modern Skepticism in the Internet Age
Notes: I don't think I spoke or presented, but this was the TAM after which I spoke with
Sylvia Browne, face to face. I spent all of TAM6 thinking about that.

TAM7 - Jul 9-12, 2009 - South Point Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas, NV -
Notes: I gave an excrutiatingly long speech about my stroke experience. The standing ovation
I received when I was rolled out on stage in my wheelchair - my reentry into society after
eleven months in the hospital - is something I will never forget. Ever. Randi presenting me with the First Annual Citizen Skeptic Award was also incredible.

TAM8 - Jul ?-?, 2010 - South Point Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas, NV -
Notes: My first TAM without appearing on stage.

TAM9 - Jul 14-17, 2011 - South Point Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas, NV -
Notes: My second TAM without appearing on stage, and, accurately or not, I felt like something of a has-been. I was still greeted wherever I went, and had some wonderful
conversations with Randi, but overall I felt sort of like "that guy who used to have that site about Sylvia Browne".

So,as I said above, my reasons for TAM9 not comparing favorably with earlier TAMs for me are largely egocentric. My star is on the descendant, after rising for a few years. It will rise again, and fall again. That's just the nature of such things.
 
Does anyone have links to the micheal shermer videos?

I really enjoyed the speech Shermer gave with examples of peridollia and auditory illusion, but now i cant seem to find links to these examples anywhere.

if anyone has the auditory illusion and/or peridollia examples, plz let me know!
 
charlan9 said:
I really enjoyed the speech Shermer gave with examples of peridollia and auditory illusion, but now i cant seem to find links to these examples anywhere.

if anyone has the auditory illusion and/or peridollia examples, plz let me know!
Click to expand...

Here's a page with some examples, and links to others. (Or you could just wait until you see Michael Shermer give the same talk again. </snark>.)
 
I went to TAM 8 and 9 and did not really chat with anyone. During TAM 8 question period, someone said they lived in the same small town I do. I could not see across the conf room to spot them. Then a second person got to the mike and noted a town next to mine.

I wish they would hang a world map and pins so we can map this out. Or have maybe state flags one meets under during breaks.
 
Skip_H said:
I went to TAM 8 and 9 and did not really chat with anyone. During TAM 8 question period, someone said they lived in the same small town I do. I could not see across the conf room to spot them. Then a second person got to the mike and noted a town next to mine.

I wish they would hang a world map and pins so we can map this out. Or have maybe state flags one meets under during breaks.
Click to expand...


You can also use the whiteboard in the hall to jot down where you're from, and ask others from the same area to call you or meet somewhere.

Granted, the board does get a bit full near the end...
 
Skip_H said:
I went to TAM 8 and 9 and did not really chat with anyone....snip...

I wish they would hang a world map and pins so we can map this out. Or have maybe state flags one meets under during breaks.
Click to expand...

It may take a bit of getting used to, but my method was to plop myself down on an empty chair and say "Hello, I don't know any of you, but my name is Chris Haynes and I'm from Seattle!" One time I sat right next to the owner of a group blog that I participate in, who I had only communicated with by email and Skype (without video).

I also go to my local Skeptics Meetup, so I knew several who were there. I did a quick google of "Portland Skeptic Meetup" and found:
http://www.meetup.com/cfi-portland/

Plus, on this forum there was a meeting of women who had "been there and done that" where I met some wonderful women.

Next year: go for it!

Edit to add:

Attend http://skepticstoolbox.org/ !
 
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Chris Haynes said:
It may take a bit of getting used to, but my method was to plop myself down on an empty chair and say "Hello, I don't know any of you, but my name is Chris Haynes and I'm from Seattle!" One time I sat right next to the owner of a group blog that I participate in, who I had only communicated with by email and Skype (without video).
Click to expand...



Easiest method to join a conversation at TAM:

Smile and say "Hi, mind if I join you guys?"

Most of us are very friendly. :)
 
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I must agree with the two commenters above... I just sucked up my bashfulness and walked up to groups and said 'can I join you?' Everyone always said 'sure, yes.'
 
I was/am reluctant to approach strangers to ask if I can join them out of sensitivity to them. It is entirely possible that they may not really care for more company or the company of someone they don't know at all (even if they see I'm a fellow skeptic and we're at a convention together).

However, there is another way, one that worked very nicely for me. Rather than approaching a group, you can set down at an empty table and invite others who walk in to join you, others may well be feeling hesitant to intrude on a group out of shyness, sensitivity, whatever.

I and my wife did this Sunday night at the Del Mar, and I met a great guy, a fellow musician, and while we discovered that we are very different in some ways, I was delighted to see him pull one of my standard moves but which is rarely done to me: after a long monologue of his on a complex topic, he said, "But enough about me, what about you?" It was incredibly refreshing to have a stranger be that thoughtful in a way that I usually try to be. It was very, very, cool, and we bonded in a way that only strangers do sometimes.
 
I was another first TAMer and I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I personally felt that all the talks were interesting and I learned a lot. As many others, I particularly enjoyed Richard Wiseman's hilarious and informative talk. The only low moment for me was the Max Maven show which I didn't find all that interesting. Though I might be alone here.

Anyway I did make an effort to introduce myself during the breaks and in the pub. I met very interesting folks from around the world and those discussions were a highlight for me. I'm now a fan of TAM and will make plans to go again next year.
 
Picasso said:
The only low moment for me was the Max Maven show which I didn't find all that interesting. Though I might be alone here.
Click to expand...

I thought it went on too long. Plus, I think it is made for an intimate theater - I was in the back and couldn't see half of what he was doing, not even on the big screens.
 
Picasso said:
IThe only low moment for me was the Max Maven show which I didn't find all that interesting. Though I might be alone here.
Click to expand...
You are not quite alone. I thought the show could have done with much less talking, and a few more actual tricks.

The few he did were somewhat interesting. Most of them I had seen before, BUT... I have come to enjoy watching different performers perform the same trick, at different times, in slightly different ways. I gains me some insight into how it is actually done. I have a very solid theory about how the blind object description trick works, having made enough...observations... about it over the years.
 
I found Max Maven's show very talkative and would have liked a few more mentalist tricks.
Wowbagger said:
I have come to enjoy watching different performers perform the same trick, at different times, in slightly different ways.
Click to expand...
Even if I know how a trick is done, I enjoy seeing it performed by different people. I've read about two dozen books on magic and I don't perform, but I like seeing a trick in the context of a show. As for how Max Maven did the blindfolded seeing, I think he did it very well. :D
 
Wowbagger said:
You are not quite alone. I thought the show could have done with much less talking, and a few more actual tricks.

The few he did were somewhat interesting. Most of them I had seen before, BUT... I have come to enjoy watching different performers perform the same trick, at different times, in slightly different ways. I gains me some insight into how it is actually done. I have a very solid theory about how the blind object description trick works, having made enough...observations... about it over the years.
Click to expand...


Max Maven is a very good mentalist and an extremely prolific inventor of magic (not limited to mentalism) that is performed by magicians all over the world.

But, yes, I also agree his show could have used some editing and more mentalism.
 
Picasso said:
The only low moment for me was the Max Maven show which I didn't find all that interesting. Though I might be alone here.
Click to expand...


The hightlight of that show for me was that we got a chance to chat with George Hrab for a few minutes before going in. Kind of went downhill from there.
 
Patricio Elicer said:
So after all, Puggy and I made the right decision of skipping Maven's show in favor of a juicy and tender meat at the Siverado Steak House :)
Click to expand...


Like I said in the carnivore thread, I am sorry I decided not to join you! :(
 
I witnessed one of the cameramen fall asleep and fall out his chair during Max Maven's show.
 
That may have been why they missed so many of the light cues too. :slp:

Looking back on it, my take away from TAM9 is that (I can't believe I am saying this) I didn't hear enough from the emcee. I absolutely loved George Hrab's opening number and I wish he had been able to interject a few more musical interludes.
 
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