Hello, users!
Lately there's been a huge boom in technological events all around the world. There were lots already, but we had the all-male-panel phenomenon, which we've been slowly fading.
However, I think we still have 3 problems in the talks given in technological events.
1) I don't see much diversity, and I'm not talking about only women&men.
What I meant with this is that if I had the chance to organize an event, there are plenty spanish professionals I'd like to invite, but also lots of professionals all around the world that I'd like to invite.
Also I don't see much people from minorities, something that really makes me worry.
2) Too many technical talks
I'm sorry but I'm so tired of the I'm so good conferences, the Look what I do talks and the I'm here because I'm a CEO talks.
Technical talks are good, but personal/social talks are good too. We're humans, we're not machines, I want to hear stories about how someone working in a bank suddenly felt the urge of programming; how a housewife started working in a tech company, how to keep a good balance between work&life&stress&learning...
I'm missing people that it's not a CEO, not a leader, not the best man/woman in the company, talking about their careers or what they've learned. Not everyone was born with nice stickers in their laptop.
3) Too many "this could've been a workshop" talks
A talk it's not a course or a class. You may understand some concepts but you won't get out of that event being a ninja-rockstar-jedi of all the technologies you've heard through the whole day.
I feel there are too many talks that shoudn't be talks, but workshops.
What are your thoughts on this? I'm reading you in the comments!
Top comments (10)
Yeah. I also think that Tech Conferences should be focused on personal problem solving stories rather than bookish and theoretical concepts. I think there should be a certain part of events dedicated to How someone got into Programming, AI, IoT or ant other emerging fields. Because stories related to personal experiences motivate people more than some
roboticconcepts.True!
Concepts and theory, being robotics, AI or IoT, are better explained with a good personal story for example!
Not just the "I'm giving you a class in the shape of a talk" feeling...
Exactly!
Something totally different: I'm not interested in events/conferences at all. Online communities and the blogosphere are enough for me. Is this weird, am I missing something?
Not at all, Leob!
I wasn't interested at all until I started knowing people online that I wanted to meet in real life, and events where a really nice place to meet them and/or hear them!
Also (at least in Spain), we have lots of events that are meant to show products (and search investors) or search for new jobs/contacts, so there is a point in going there. Some conferences are really good as well.
Right, I see what you mean. As always, "it depends", to each their own and it all depends on your situation. It's just a matter of "whatever floats your boat". For me 'online' suffices but different folks different strokes.
That!
Another one important for me:
That helps us to overfocus about things that do not matter.
We argue about the BEST WAYS to do this and that.
We overthink about the HOW and forget about the WHY?
We forget about our context, and our users, and what their user needs are.
I would never be tired to recommend this talk :)
Navigating the Hype-Driven Frontend Development World Without Going Insane
Caveat: I am not a frontend developer and can guarantee that this is not specific to Javascript.
It depends, I go to FFconf in Brighton and it's about as inclusive as you can get. But based on the location, that's no surprise. From those events I have learned that there are even people who advice on how to do inclusive confs, set up advice packs and so much more.
Personally I have no shame in saying, I am there first and foremost for the tech, I am antisocial in the flesh. And I know that because nowhere in my day to day can I be myself truly apart from at work. So that to me is my minority, I am a developer, geek and father of 1. I am at home talking about tech or hearing about tech, cater for my needs, tell me about tech.
Actually... 95% of people I talk to, do expect that kind of talks in technological events.
Giving the view of "we're all so good and pro's here in tech" and "tech is only about frameworks and libraries and programming" it's actually the most toxic kind of view I've seen in a while in a professional sector.
So why talking about habits in technology doesn't fit in a technological event?