Conferences are always interesting affairs. Some attend hoping to find answers, to network, and others hope to get hired. I attended an eLearning Conference in Orlando and found myself feeling a little rebelious. I was supposed to attend a full day session but left during the last hour.
There is nothing worse than self-appointed "training leaders" demonstrating their undying love for their fellow presenters. It seriously felt like watching a bunch of middle-age white guys masterbating each other.
Stroke ... stroke ... stroke... you are so wonderful.
I just loved your book ... heh heh ... did you like the statistics that I pulled together?
Hot.
Look I included a powerpoint transitions.
Dude that is amazing!
PowerPoint is hot.
Hey, did anyone read the bullet points that promoted today's session?
Why?
Oh, that's right, we're "training leaders" ... whatever we say is gospel.
By the way, who are those people looking at us like we're absolute idiots ... didn't they hear that we are training leaders?
So, I opted to read Jeanette Winterson's The Stone Gods and headed to the Magic Kingdom with a colleague. I am happy to say that after the first day's disappointment, the rest of the session was excellent.
