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I can here for this comment. To me, slides are like tables or diagrams in a research paper: you only use them because expressing the idea in a paragraph (i.e. s

I can here for this comment. To me, slides are like tables or diagrams in a research paper: you only use them because expressing the idea in a paragraph (i.e. speaking) would be too difficult or nonsensical. I understand that some speakers are so slide centric because it's their presentation style or they do it for shits and giggles, but most speakers seems to do it because of ignorance and inexperience.

ravenstine 9y ago
Either way, it's still a crutch. If they do it because it's their style, that's fine except it's utterly pointless and audiences should be insulted by it; at best, the slides just repeat the same information that the speaker is telling you in person, and at worst it's inane kinda funny garbage that I could have easily come across on my own time. The information and insight itself should be compelling enough to carry a talk, and if the speaker can't muster the enthusiasm to actually entertain people while being informative, said speaker really isn't providing much value at all. Admittedly, this is from my perspective and I know that slide-heavy talks amuse people. I'm going to be a pompous jackass and say that people should have a little integrity and actually care more about the information they are receiving than by merely being entertained. In a sense, I am criticizing audiences more than I am speakers because speakers wouldn't get away with these things if they weren't getting even just a couple laughs. Slides have their place, but the ideal should be that they are only used as figures would be in a research paper. Imagine how annoying it would be if most research papers had meme images between every paragraph! Funny at first, but would get super tiresome when you're trying to understand algorithm-heavy concepts.
- watwut 9y ago
  I like slides that "just repeat the information that was said". It makes it easier to think about previous point (because it is in front of me) and easier to catch up if I lost attention momentary. It makes it also easier to remember what was said afterwards (I can either remember speech or slide visually and having it in two forms help).

ravenstine 9y ago

Either way, it's still a crutch. If they do it because it's their style, that's fine except it's utterly pointless and audiences should be insulted by it; at best, the slides just repeat the same information that the speaker is telling you in person, and at worst it's inane kinda funny garbage that I could have easily come across on my own time. The information and insight itself should be compelling enough to carry a talk, and if the speaker can't muster the enthusiasm to actually entertain people while being informative, said speaker really isn't providing much value at all. Admittedly, this is from my perspective and I know that slide-heavy talks amuse people. I'm going to be a pompous jackass and say that people should have a little integrity and actually care more about the information they are receiving than by merely being entertained. In a sense, I am criticizing audiences more than I am speakers because speakers wouldn't get away with these things if they weren't getting even just a couple laughs. Slides have their place, but the ideal should be that they are only used as figures would be in a research paper. Imagine how annoying it would be if most research papers had meme images between every paragraph! Funny at first, but would get super tiresome when you're trying to understand algorithm-heavy concepts.

watwut 9y ago
I like slides that "just repeat the information that was said". It makes it easier to think about previous point (because it is in front of me) and easier to catch up if I lost attention momentary. It makes it also easier to remember what was said afterwards (I can either remember speech or slide visually and having it in two forms help).