#WordPress The most frustrating thing about WordPress conferences is that 99% of the social discourse around them is 1. I’m on my way there! 2. I’m there! 3. Here’s what I’m eating! 4. Can’t wait for the next one! and not 5. Here’s what I learned...
@davebloomdev We would say that it’s great to see the mix of people’s experiences plus what they learn. For @WCEurope , we started to see people’s posts that they are on the way and we love it. Can’t wait to see what they learn or taught on day one.
It's a cult, you go to hangout, not learn. You can't learn from those only elevated because of their proximity and fealty to the leader. You're not getting the best talent at a WordPress event where the ecosystem doesn't even reward that talent for sticking around. You going to get the same bullshit every year, every event because WordPress is not stewarded by real foundation
@davebloomdev I think what most people learn (including me)... (Network with new people) + (Reconnect with old folks) = Take those connections further when you return home. And, above is GOLD for personal and professional growth... if one has done it for 2-3 years ;)
@davebloomdev Could it be that we're largely not learning anything and that the main point of going is an excuse to travel and socialize?
@davebloomdev Is that maybe because people don't find a lot of value in the talks? I know lots of people who used to skip a lot of them and just go for the social events.
That does seem to be the case. Some people I talk to say they attend conferences for one reason…”that’s where deals get done.” Deals are getting done online, so if learning isn’t happening at conferences, there’s no reason to go IMO. That said, I don’t think of conferences as places to learn. Meetups, perhaps. Conferences, no. If Kevin said he’s putting on a meetup there in GA, I’m far more likely to attend something like that, cuz I know the type of crowd that will attract.
@ me next time so I get notified and can RT 😂😂😂 I would also add "Here's what my business class plane seat looks like" to the list But honestly, I agree to an extent. Though, I do see a fair bit of people commenting on their experience overall. Maybe less about what they learned, yea.
Contributor day is a real learning experience. Over 800 attended it in Porto. I sold my marketplace because I went to Berlin WCEU. Serbia was the just the best. Deals are definitely done and in person meetups of this scale are phenomenal value to each and every attendee as long as they 'show up'. Meet, greet, network and have fun. Nothing wrong in that and it is to be encouraged. If you have never attended, you will never know the true value.
@davebloomdev 1. If your main goal in a conference is learning, you are doing conferences wrong 😁 2. Back when I was in school, my feed never was "today I learned X", even though I was learning tons. Tweets are not the best format to share learnings.
@davebloomdev From my experience, they're far less about learning and far more about networking.
@davebloomdev I'm starting a new trend of announcing that I'm not on my way to events.
@davebloomdev I went to my local one 2 years ago, honestly didn't see much of a need to go to any more after.
@davebloomdev 10+ years ago people DID share in real-time from camps. The problem was live tweeting a wordcamp talk wasn't actually good content. It's nice to think attendees are now paying more attention to the talk than trying to real-time share it, which wptv and livestreams do better.
I'll add to that. Talks by speakers in the industry rarely surprise or feel enlightening. I mean, don't fly to another continent if you're just going to show a slide on a blog a you wrote 3 years ago. Engaging and enlightening talks are a must. When I do find one talk that's really unique, people for some reason don't wanna talk about it anymore
@davebloomdev That is the issue/reality with WordCamps, they’re community really. Not professional development
@davebloomdev Even more annoying: "look who I bumped into …"
@davebloomdev Business deals don't happen in the sessions, they happen in the hallways during the talks and social events after.
@davebloomdev I always thought the point of conferences was to have an excuse to meet with other people and drink. Any learning is secondary, unless you are in a regulated industry (in which case you need those CEUs).
@davebloomdev Sounds like none of you read anyone’s blogs.
@davebloomdev Because??? There wasn't much learned??? They're not educational events. They're for socialization /indoctrination. The more Kool Aid severed the better.