Comments on: Are you at TED? http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/ The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations to science journalism Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:13:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Lee http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-4150 Lee Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:08:04 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-4150 What a surprise to see others that see TED has a bit of a elitist feel to it. I was not aware of the price tag but just looking at the topics I am turned off by what appears to be group of leftist, smarter than thou so called futurist. Topics such as : "Virginia Postrel on glamour" "James Burchfield plays (invisible) turntables" "Ory Okolloh on becoming an activist" "Steven Levitt on child carseats" Do not compel me to watch the videos much less pay $6000 to rub shoulders with what TED calls "the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers...". What a surprise to see others that see TED has a bit of a elitist feel to it. I was not aware of the price tag but just looking at the topics I am turned off by what appears to be group of leftist, smarter than thou so called futurist.

Topics such as :
“Virginia Postrel on glamour”
“James Burchfield plays (invisible) turntables”
“Ory Okolloh on becoming an activist”
“Steven Levitt on child carseats”

Do not compel me to watch the videos much less pay $6000 to rub shoulders with what TED calls “the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers…”.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-4004 Jeff Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:51:32 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-4004 Well said. The whole thing looks just a bit over the top. There is something very Tony Robbins about this- expensive and flashy but what do you really get out of it in the end? Well said. The whole thing looks just a bit over the top. There is something very Tony Robbins about this- expensive and flashy but what do you really get out of it in the end?

]]> By: Nuno Pequito http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3942 Nuno Pequito Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:53:11 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3942 What are they using all that money for? Is it for bandwidth? Are they paying the talkers? Let them pay as long as TED keeps providing hi-res videos for download. I couldn't care less for who is in the audience and I wouldn't attend if it was free anyway... What are they using all that money for?

Is it for bandwidth? Are they paying the talkers?

Let them pay as long as TED keeps providing hi-res videos for download. I couldn’t care less for who is in the audience and I wouldn’t attend if it was free anyway…

]]> By: Tim http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3941 Tim Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:17:44 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3941 TED is one of the few conferences that I would actually really enjoy attending... but I'm one of peasants :) Nice to have it on video at least. TED is one of the few conferences that I would actually really enjoy attending… but I’m one of peasants :) Nice to have it on video at least.

]]> By: Gord McLeod http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3922 Gord McLeod Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:26:16 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3922 I have to wonder how much of a future these types of conferences have. I'm sure they'll always happen, and I'm sure they'll continue to draw respect/admiration/scorn/ire, but how much relevance are they going to have with new media like Facebook and Twitter making it so easy for virtual conferences to spring up with no price tag? They even spill into the real world via tweetups and similar real world meetings. Hopefully soon it'll start to sink in that you don't have to pay $6,000 to exchange ideas with inspiring people. I have to wonder how much of a future these types of conferences have. I’m sure they’ll always happen, and I’m sure they’ll continue to draw respect/admiration/scorn/ire, but how much relevance are they going to have with new media like Facebook and Twitter making it so easy for virtual conferences to spring up with no price tag? They even spill into the real world via tweetups and similar real world meetings.

Hopefully soon it’ll start to sink in that you don’t have to pay $6,000 to exchange ideas with inspiring people.

]]> By: Chris http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3899 Chris Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:52:14 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3899 I had no idea it was such an expensive conference. I guess this explains why they advertise luxury cars at the end of so many TED videos. I had no idea it was such an expensive conference.

I guess this explains why they advertise luxury cars at the end of so many TED videos.

]]> By: Nic Wise http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3897 Nic Wise Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:36:51 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3897 The best thing about TED is, I CAN be (sort of) a part of it, by watching the video and then discussing it on blogs, twitter etc. OK, it's not the same as being there, but still.... BTW, what happened to Potential Energy? I was really enjoying it - run out of topics? or time? :) (and thanks for the ones you DID do!) The best thing about TED is, I CAN be (sort of) a part of it, by watching the video and then discussing it on blogs, twitter etc. OK, it’s not the same as being there, but still….

BTW, what happened to Potential Energy? I was really enjoying it - run out of topics? or time? :) (and thanks for the ones you DID do!)

]]> By: Robert Watson http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3896 Robert Watson Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:06:11 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3896 Kudos for having the courage to say what many of us think, about the TED talks being elitist. Kudos for having the courage to say what many of us think, about the TED talks being elitist.

]]> By: Bleyddyn http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3895 Bleyddyn Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:27:00 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3895 I'm not at TED but the lab I work for sent two grad students, a collaborator and a robotic Einstein head. But I don't know if presenters need to pay the entry fee or not. One possible 'solution' (if it's really even a problem) would be to start a second conference either at the same time or just before or after TED at a nearby location. Same themes, but more inclusive (i.e. smaller price tag). I, personally, have never seen much benefit from attending the few conferences I've been to. At least no benefit that can't be gotten from watching the videos after the fact. Then again I'm pretty anti-social so the whole networking/shmoozing thing doesn't do much for me. I’m not at TED but the lab I work for sent two grad students, a collaborator and a robotic Einstein head. But I don’t know if presenters need to pay the entry fee or not.

One possible ’solution’ (if it’s really even a problem) would be to start a second conference either at the same time or just before or after TED at a nearby location. Same themes, but more inclusive (i.e. smaller price tag).

I, personally, have never seen much benefit from attending the few conferences I’ve been to. At least no benefit that can’t be gotten from watching the videos after the fact. Then again I’m pretty anti-social so the whole networking/shmoozing thing doesn’t do much for me.

]]> By: Serafina http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3892 Serafina Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:24:38 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2009/02/05/are-you-at-ted/#comment-3892 That's where the BIL conference comes in... :D http://bilconference.com/ That’s where the BIL conference comes in… :D

http://bilconference.com/

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