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Post-TAM9 Thoughts

This was my first time attending TAM, and it was indeed an Amazing Meeting! I was so impressed by the quality of the speakers, and I found their talks very informative with many unexpected moments of humor too. When I tried to explain to friends and family why I was going to Vegas for a "science conference", they all politely replied "that sounds... interesting." But TAM was everything I expected and more. It was so enjoyable to rub elbows with experts in their fields, skeptical heroes, and the multitudes of intelligent, rational, down-to-earth people who were in attendence. Among my favorite events were the talks by Tyson, Nye, and Wiseman, the live SGU podcasts (including that amazing mafia-style video), and Rebecca's Game Show. There were just too many great moments to mention.

I have to admit that as a first time TAMmer (and as a naturally shy person), I did a lot more watching and listening than talking and participating, and I am a bit disappointed that I didn't make more skeptical friends, but if I am able to go back to future TAMs, I will make that a bigger priority. I like the idea mentioned above about an optional directory of TAM attendees, as I think that would make it easier for the less assertive among us to make those new connections. I also would like to involve myself more here in the JREF forum because, when you think about it, isn't this forum just the TAM - Home Edition? :)

See you all around the Del Mar interwebs!
 
Paul2 said:
I regularly put on concerts with more microphones than at TAM 9, and I was thinking all along how I would have checked the A/V issues better than what I saw.

TAM 9 was great, but sound reinforcement was below par.
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Welcome, first-TAMmer! A/V issues are a long-standing TAM tradition, and TAM9 was virtually trouble-free on a relative scale.

Someone help me out, here; which TAM was it when the room lights became possessed?
 
Standard operating procedures provide a protocol for fixing the vast majority of A/V problems encountered (I think: I'm not privy, admittedly, to the technical problems they had to solve). The basic procedure, duh, is to do a dress rehearsal in some form or another. Maybe that's not practical, but can't they come as close as they can?

That's is not inconsistent with TAM 9 being trouble-free on a relative scale to past TAMs.
 
Unsecured Coins said:
I had no idea what to expect from TAM. I'd only met one person that was attending this year (Geek Goddess) so the rest of you yahoos were like animals waiting to kill and eat me in the lobby as far as I was concerned.

I do have to thank Hutch, first and foremost for getting me out there. I know I was supposed to bring the rest of the family with me, and that didn't happen, so, next year I'm going to get someone out there on my dime to repay his generosity. Hutch, you will always be in my cool book, even if you didn't know who I was at the airport. Despite wearing a jersey with POWERS on the back...

Like I mentioned earlier, I had absolutely no idea who any one was. I'm generally shy by nature, and suddenly making 1600 friends seemed like a dauntiing task. Plus, I felt a little out of my element. Here I am, surrounded by people who breed PhDs and authors and whatnot, and there I stick out, a ...car salesman. I felt underwhelmed, a tad out of place, and the phrase "what the F*** am I doing here?" crossed my mind more than a few times. And that all changed when I met Kochanski. I saundered (some would call it a sashay) over to the forum table where she was, introduced myself, and she stood up and gave me a giant hug. I suddenly had this feeling wash over me.

Soon after that, more people showed up. Forgive me if I forget anyone, but Horatious, kitty, hcmom, The Mutha (and Dolly), GG (love) OOB, Faydra, Hokey, Hokey mom, RemieV, zooterkin, Chris, kitten, Eos, saganite, Scrut (yes, even you) El Spectre, and geez, am I forgetting names here, but everyone i met instantly made me feel welcome and kept me busy at all times.

I've decided to go next year just so I can play penny slots with Hokey's mom and her again. Best time I had there was probably all three of us lined up just mashing buttons and pointing to our machines screaming "winning!!". Dinner with Mutha and Dolly was great, raiding with my guild mates was awesome, as well as chugging brews with Horatius. To me it wasn't the event, it was the atmosphere. Given how my life has gone lately, I needed something like this, and suddenly I wasn't some loner from Florida, i was with my friends and family I've known for years that I was meeting for the first time.

"you have exactly one hour to stop doing that."
"meet me by the horse's ass"
"they're probably at the Del Mar"

Phrases I can't stop thinking about even as I stared out of my window at work today, with a phone full of memories. Can't wait til Tamageddon next year.
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It was awesome to finally meet you, UC. Sorry I didn't spend more time with you, but I aim to correct that in the future :)
 
SkepticScott said:
What happens if their "opt-out" message is lost or misplaced? Opt-in is the only ethical approach. I am glad that the JREF is "stubbornly" protecting my privacy. Imagine if Mabus got one of those directories.
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In these times of electronic communications we are expected to make a myriad of choices via the internet, most of which are far more critical to our interests that whether to agree to be listed in a directory of TAM attendees. Upon TAM registration (via the internet), there can simply be a box to check, "I would like to have my name and the following information included in the TAM 10 program Guide: City and State: email address: Website: contact telephone number: Number of TAMs attended: etc., etc."

If you don't check the release of information box and then fill in your pertinent information (that which you are willing to share), the JREF could not and would not include same!

Your privacy would never be an issue, unless you intentionally listed some private information that you did not want to be shared AND also checked the box where you said you wanted this information to be shared. Why would anyone do that?
 
SkepticScott said:
What happens if their "opt-out" message is lost or misplaced? Opt-in is the only ethical approach. I am glad that the JREF is "stubbornly" protecting my privacy. Imagine if Mabus got one of those directories.
Click to expand...

feldesq said:
Upon TAM registration (via the internet), there can simply be a box to check, "I would like to have my name and the following information included in the TAM 10 program Guide: City and State: email address: Website: contact telephone number: Number of TAMs attended: etc., etc."
Click to expand...
Yes, that's an "opt-in" system and that is the preferred method to protect privacy.
 
Unsecured Coins said:
I had no idea what to expect from TAM. I'd only met one person that was attending this year (Geek Goddess) so the rest of you yahoos were like animals waiting to kill and eat me in the lobby as far as I was concerned.

I do have to thank Hutch, first and foremost for getting me out there. I know I was supposed to bring the rest of the family with me, and that didn't happen, so, next year I'm going to get someone out there on my dime to repay his generosity. Hutch, you will always be in my cool book, even if you didn't know who I was at the airport. Despite wearing a jersey with POWERS on the back...

Like I mentioned earlier, I had absolutely no idea who any one was. I'm generally shy by nature, and suddenly making 1600 friends seemed like a dauntiing task. Plus, I felt a little out of my element. Here I am, surrounded by people who breed PhDs and authors and whatnot, and there I stick out, a ...car salesman. I felt underwhelmed, a tad out of place, and the phrase "what the F*** am I doing here?" crossed my mind more than a few times. And that all changed when I met Kochanski. I saundered (some would call it a sashay) over to the forum table where she was, introduced myself, and she stood up and gave me a giant hug. I suddenly had this feeling wash over me.

Soon after that, more people showed up. Forgive me if I forget anyone, but Horatious, kitty, hcmom, The Mutha (and Dolly), GG (love) OOB, Faydra, Hokey, Hokey mom, RemieV, zooterkin, Chris, kitten, Eos, saganite, Scrut (yes, even you) El Spectre, and geez, am I forgetting names here, but everyone i met instantly made me feel welcome and kept me busy at all times.

I've decided to go next year just so I can play penny slots with Hokey's mom and her again. Best time I had there was probably all three of us lined up just mashing buttons and pointing to our machines screaming "winning!!". Dinner with Mutha and Dolly was great, raiding with my guild mates was awesome, as well as chugging brews with Horatius. To me it wasn't the event, it was the atmosphere. Given how my life has gone lately, I needed something like this, and suddenly I wasn't some loner from Florida, i was with my friends and family I've known for years that I was meeting for the first time.

"you have exactly one hour to stop doing that."
"meet me by the horse's ass"
"they're probably at the Del Mar"

Phrases I can't stop thinking about even as I stared out of my window at work today, with a phone full of memories. Can't wait til Tamageddon next year.
Click to expand...

Aw. We love you too.

I've definitely got a case of the post-TAM blues these days, myself. Back into the box now.
 
Meeting Unsecured Coins, and getting my daily hug from him, was definitely a bright spot of the week!
 
It was my second TAM, TAM7 being my first. TAM9 was AWESOME! Special thanks to Ziggy66 for being my roommate. It's always good to have a TAM veteran to help you out.
bertman4
 
No, that was me who experienced the Hutchmobile with you. (Thanks again for the ride, Hutch!)
 
And the third passanger in the Hutchmobile was me. Thanks again, Hutch!!

Also, a public thank you to Allecher for the shuttle reservation call. (I missed it anyway because my flight in Dallas was delayed for more than 30 minutes. But the plan B worked to perfection, namely the Hutchmobile).
 
Unsecured Coins said:
Soon after that, more people showed up. Forgive me if I forget anyone, but Horatious, kitty, hcmom, The Mutha (and Dolly), GG (love) OOB, Faydra, Hokey, Hokey mom, RemieV, zooterkin, Chris, kitten, Eos, saganite, Scrut (yes, even you) El Spectre, and geez, am I forgetting names here, but everyone i met instantly made me feel welcome and kept me busy at all times.
Click to expand...

We only got to meet each other at the sushi place. But it was nice none the less! And here's hoping to all meeting up again at TAM10.
 
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