I dislike conferences, and almost never went to them even before children, and certainly not afterwards. I don't think it damaged my academic career that much though probably a bit. I was lucky in any case to be based always in Oxford, Cambridge or London which makes it much easier to make links even without traveling. But I do think it's obvious that the emphasis upon conferences makes academic life difficult for parents and for anyone with fragile health, as my own has almost always been to a greater or lesser extent. Of course many people with young children have no problem going away, but personally I have never felt comfortable about being a plane journey away from my children. I do agree with you that such profligate travel seems unjustifiable these days, but I have to admit though that I have never attended an online conference that I really thought worked, and they are surely much less useful for younger scholars trying to meet and chat with people informally. So it's a genuine problem I think. In any case, I enjoyed reading your thoughts about it.
The perspective that you have arrived at after having been part of the top spots but now being faced with endings, reduced capacity, humility and potential exclusion, is invaluable. We all need to learn to think around the corners of our blind desire for more visibility and acknowledgement towards a measure of wisdom. There is no doubt that having to reflect more carefully is an advantage. It is almost as if you have been catapulted into something resembling my own position, which is that of semi retirement at the age of 73, a time when similar reflections are a daily process. I certainly travelled too much and too far for many years, when I was a rising star, incapable of turning down a seemingly vital opportunity. Now I know that we are fortunate to be able to do much online and that when we do we are more modest in our contributions. We don't shine as we do when standing on a big podium, and when we can measure our success in the loudness, persistence and sincerity of the applause, not to mention standing ovations. We have to share our messages online in a much more equal way with younger colleagues and our impact is both artificially and I believe intentionally flattened. There is something very democratic about this, which I am learning to relish. I feel I can have more impact now in passing concrete wisdom on via YouTube to people who actually need to hear what I know. I find it very satisfying to quietly pass on some of my learning and not have to grandstand about it anymore.
2+1 is progress but wouldn’t it make more sense for the APA to finally do what all other major professional associations do and have one single conference a year? If they cannot break the regional divisional structure which itself seems like a relic, then why not alternate the divisional host annually? At the very least maybe 1+2 is the answer. Thanks as always Helen for your wonderfully thoughtful posts.
Thanks to you, I have being rereading Zhuangzi again after many years. Please, understand this comment under that light.
"... I am not sure if my present perspective really offers wisdom".
Why should your perspective offer wisdom? It helps us think about a lot of stuff.
In my book, that's more than enough
My thoughts are with you
I dislike conferences, and almost never went to them even before children, and certainly not afterwards. I don't think it damaged my academic career that much though probably a bit. I was lucky in any case to be based always in Oxford, Cambridge or London which makes it much easier to make links even without traveling. But I do think it's obvious that the emphasis upon conferences makes academic life difficult for parents and for anyone with fragile health, as my own has almost always been to a greater or lesser extent. Of course many people with young children have no problem going away, but personally I have never felt comfortable about being a plane journey away from my children. I do agree with you that such profligate travel seems unjustifiable these days, but I have to admit though that I have never attended an online conference that I really thought worked, and they are surely much less useful for younger scholars trying to meet and chat with people informally. So it's a genuine problem I think. In any case, I enjoyed reading your thoughts about it.
The perspective that you have arrived at after having been part of the top spots but now being faced with endings, reduced capacity, humility and potential exclusion, is invaluable. We all need to learn to think around the corners of our blind desire for more visibility and acknowledgement towards a measure of wisdom. There is no doubt that having to reflect more carefully is an advantage. It is almost as if you have been catapulted into something resembling my own position, which is that of semi retirement at the age of 73, a time when similar reflections are a daily process. I certainly travelled too much and too far for many years, when I was a rising star, incapable of turning down a seemingly vital opportunity. Now I know that we are fortunate to be able to do much online and that when we do we are more modest in our contributions. We don't shine as we do when standing on a big podium, and when we can measure our success in the loudness, persistence and sincerity of the applause, not to mention standing ovations. We have to share our messages online in a much more equal way with younger colleagues and our impact is both artificially and I believe intentionally flattened. There is something very democratic about this, which I am learning to relish. I feel I can have more impact now in passing concrete wisdom on via YouTube to people who actually need to hear what I know. I find it very satisfying to quietly pass on some of my learning and not have to grandstand about it anymore.
2+1 is progress but wouldn’t it make more sense for the APA to finally do what all other major professional associations do and have one single conference a year? If they cannot break the regional divisional structure which itself seems like a relic, then why not alternate the divisional host annually? At the very least maybe 1+2 is the answer. Thanks as always Helen for your wonderfully thoughtful posts.