Los politicos at Le Web3.

British educational journalist-blogger Ian Delaney is at Le Web 3, formerly Les Blogs 2 and he is among several unhappy attendees who have been subjected to a keynote by Nobel Laureate Shimon Peres, followed by a parade of French candidates for president.

I think Ian has a most valid complaint, although if I were there, I probably would probably not share it. Ian came to  hear geeks talking about geek stuff and its social impact. It's bad enough that those of us fortunate to live in countries where people vote, have to listen to the struts, frets and rants of our own candidates, let alone those of a neighboring country. I won't even speculate as to why the candidates themselves decided to address a gathering dominated by people who could not vote for them even if they could.

For me Shimon Peres, reminds me of the last time there was any real hope for peace between Palestinians and their Israeli neighbors. For me, I would have been thrilled to hear what he had to say  I would have tried to be first to ask a question of how--or if--such hope can be restored.

But then, all that stuff is off topic. If I were Ian, when there are speakers who do not interest me I would use that time to hang out in the hallways, where the social networking opps are usually first rate.


Although I was one of the speakers at Les Blogs 2, I agreed with most of last year's attendees that the
real value to the conference was in the social networking that took place in the hallways and at the social gatherings and not from speakers in the front of the room.

Ian, enjoy the conference.  Meet people.  Share thoughts. I hope the food is better.  At the end of the event look back. I have a hunch you will feel you got your 600 Euros worth.

Besides, this whole experience has allowed me to write my first tri-lingual headline.

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Comments

[Jeremiah Owyang]

There is quite the backlash on this event. Wow. I'm waiting for Loic to respond from his blog...

[Pat Phelan]

looks like web3 has found its first victim
http://blog.roam4free.ie/arrington-falls-out-with-sam-sethi-surprise-victim-of-leweb3/

[Nicole Simon]

Shel, given the amount of people coming which was shown before it was clear that this was not supposed to be a geeky event - and neither one of the geeks I know expected that to happen.

This was an event where we geeks would fullfil our role in this game as consultants, advisors etc.

And expanding a conference to new and broader topics, more on the social side than on just tech geek stuff? Conferences like reboot are all about this, have been now at least for two years and you will find people like me in there as well.

It is great to have 'great names' speaking to you but let me try it this way: If you booked your flights for your world tour and instead of being landed in europe you get transfered to india and when you dare to complain get shouted at "you should be grateful to get this" then you know something is not right.

Such things can be prepared and need to be prepared. And you cannot marvel in how great it is that so many countries come and then go to abusing it for local politics in local language with local media.

Speakers getting pushed back and cut down in time (in some cases from 30 minutes to more 3 minutes) is not helping either.

*that* is the point of it, not the rest.