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> The equivalent situation is something like being warmly invited to a wedding > ... > Later, you're told you can only come to the ceremony and not the receptio

by ghusto 3y ago

> The equivalent situation is something like being warmly invited to a wedding > ... > Later, you're told you can only come to the ceremony and not the reception or party For context, I've spoken at over 100 conference events. Is it though? I can tell you from an audience point of view it almost certainly isn't. Nobody cares very much what "status, time, and prominence" your talk has. Which leads me to ... > There are very significant differences in terms of the keynote speakers and regular speakers — generally in compensation, status, time, and prominence So it's an ego thing? Just give the talk, forego whatever glory you get from it.

jxf 3y ago
> So it's an ego thing? It's a respect thing. It costs time and money to produce and give a talk. That very often isn't visible to the audience. It takes weeks of dedicated preparation to deliver a high-quality keynote talk, and people have day jobs and other obligations. If they're going to travel hundreds or thousands of miles and now have to pay for the privilege, they might want to not be treated as disposable. That doesn't seem like too much to ask.
- cookieperson 3y ago
  People often get time off of work or school to be honored with formal talking gigs. IE your boss will let you off the hook to prepare for it because it makes your company/school look good. It'd be pretty embarrassing to have to explain to your boss or your PI that "oops I'm no longer a key note speaker"
- throwaway5959 3y ago
  Why not just make all talks keynotes then. Change the label and everyone gets respect.
ZephyrBlu 3y ago
Man, you really don't understand social dynamics do you? Status, credibility and respect are real and tend to matter a lot. It's not "an ego thing".
- ghusto 3y ago
  I understand social dynamics, I just don't respect them. You can count all the "social dynamics" points you like, but it won't change how I treat what you've said, or how I push what I'm saying. Your statements will be judged on merit.
Aeolun 3y ago
> Is it though? It’s like being center stage on the PR poster for the movie and then only being an extra. Like, being invited to perform on the main stage of the concert with your band, and then later being told you’ll have to perform from side stage 3 instead. The audience is confused, and the whole thing is just disrespectful, yeah. The thing itself is not the problem, performing on stage 3 by itself would be fine. It’s the disrespect and incompetence implied by the switch from one to the other.

by ghusto 3y ago

jxf 3y ago

> So it's an ego thing? It's a respect thing. It costs time and money to produce and give a talk. That very often isn't visible to the audience. It takes weeks of dedicated preparation to deliver a high-quality keynote talk, and people have day jobs and other obligations. If they're going to travel hundreds or thousands of miles and now have to pay for the privilege, they might want to not be treated as disposable. That doesn't seem like too much to ask.

cookieperson 3y ago
People often get time off of work or school to be honored with formal talking gigs. IE your boss will let you off the hook to prepare for it because it makes your company/school look good. It'd be pretty embarrassing to have to explain to your boss or your PI that "oops I'm no longer a key note speaker"
throwaway5959 3y ago
Why not just make all talks keynotes then. Change the label and everyone gets respect.

ZephyrBlu 3y ago

Man, you really don't understand social dynamics do you? Status, credibility and respect are real and tend to matter a lot. It's not "an ego thing".

ghusto 3y ago
I understand social dynamics, I just don't respect them. You can count all the "social dynamics" points you like, but it won't change how I treat what you've said, or how I push what I'm saying. Your statements will be judged on merit.

Aeolun 3y ago

> Is it though? It’s like being center stage on the PR poster for the movie and then only being an extra. Like, being invited to perform on the main stage of the concert with your band, and then later being told you’ll have to perform from side stage 3 instead. The audience is confused, and the whole thing is just disrespectful, yeah. The thing itself is not the problem, performing on stage 3 by itself would be fine. It’s the disrespect and incompetence implied by the switch from one to the other.