galactic_hedgehog
Procrastinating, Python-quoting, Blue Blazer-drinking, chocolate-chip cookie-eating, Pastafarian, Not So
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« on: October 28, 2009, 09:05:38 AM » |
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Guess what? I received my first ever brochure for the MLA conference today! Should I go? Will I get to see lots of big names? Is there deep thinking and carousing? What's in it for? Help!
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"A pun is primâ facie an insult to the person you are talking with. It implies utter indifference to or sublime contempt for his remarks, no matter how serious." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Hedgie loves to read. |
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bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
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Posts: 5,255
softwears
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« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2009, 12:17:10 PM » |
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Guess what? I received my first ever brochure for the MLA conference today! Should I go? Will I get to see lots of big names? Is there deep thinking and carousing? What's in it for? Help!
You should fully go. One of the the big Comp Lit conferences this year had a panel on Michel Serres. Don't worry, I might go to sciency things. With cosmologists and everything. (my personal favorites) Go. Fully. You will enjoy it. You too can read! |
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In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
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peppergal
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« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2009, 06:43:30 PM » |
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In my opinion, the MLA is a meet market for hiring purposes. No one really goes for the papers, which are mostly of the "Look, search committees, I actually do stuff!" variety. In fact, I know very few people who go if they're not (1) giving a paper, (2) interviewing, or (3) organizing a session. If you're not in one of the three above categories, I would say only go if it's local for you. But if you have to spend money to get there, then stay home and enjoy the holidays with your family.
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corny
maizetastic
Senior member
Posts: 607
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« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2009, 07:05:14 PM » |
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In my opinion, the MLA is a meet market for hiring purposes. No one really goes for the papers, which are mostly of the "Look, search committees, I actually do stuff!" variety. In fact, I know very few people who go if they're not (1) giving a paper, (2) interviewing, or (3) organizing a session. If you're not in one of the three above categories, I would say only go if it's local for you. But if you have to spend money to get there, then stay home and enjoy the holidays with your family.
Yes, but it's a lot more fun if you're not doing any of those three things. You get to observe the nerves and chaos disinterestedly. Also, I did go to one very good panel at the MLA once. And sometimes you glimpse famous people at a distance. You can also try to pretend that you're famous yourself. Turn your nametag around so that no one can read it, and let them wonder. |
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E: (staring at his phone) "Well? Shall we go?" A: (also staring at his phone) "Yes, let's go." Only their thumbs move. |
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temporaryname
Junior faculty,
Senior member
Posts: 896
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« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2009, 07:38:30 PM » |
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In my opinion, the MLA is a meet market for hiring purposes. No one really goes for the papers, which are mostly of the "Look, search committees, I actually do stuff!" variety. In fact, I know very few people who go if they're not (1) giving a paper, (2) interviewing, or (3) organizing a session. If you're not in one of the three above categories, I would say only go if it's local for you. But if you have to spend money to get there, then stay home and enjoy the holidays with your family.
First of all, I love the meat market/meet market eggcorn. The one time I attended the MLA, I wasn't doing any of these things--I had the opportunity to go fairly inexpensively, so I took it. The book display was the most amazing thing I've ever seen at an academic conference--if the MLA is ever near me again (unlikely, given my current location) I'd go just for the sweet, sweet book exhibit (and the halfway decent swag, though the swag at my partner's engineering conferences is much better). |
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pink_
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« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2009, 08:05:59 PM » |
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I like to go because it gives me a chance to catch up with my friends.
Plus, I don't live in a city anymore, and I miss it. 4 days is a nice chance to be in an urban space, and then I can come back to TTville.
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Horses don't have seatbelts. Listen to Pink, she's smart.
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aandsdean
I feel affirmed that I'm truly a 6,000+ post
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Posts: 6,408
Positively impactful on stakeholder synergies
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« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2009, 08:43:35 PM » |
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In my opinion, the MLA is a meet market for hiring purposes. No one really goes for the papers, which are mostly of the "Look, search committees, I actually do stuff!" variety. In fact, I know very few people who go if they're not (1) giving a paper, (2) interviewing, or (3) organizing a session. If you're not in one of the three above categories, I would say only go if it's local for you. But if you have to spend money to get there, then stay home and enjoy the holidays with your family.
First of all, I love the meat market/meet market eggcorn. The one time I attended the MLA, I wasn't doing any of these things--I had the opportunity to go fairly inexpensively, so I took it. The book display was the most amazing thing I've ever seen at an academic conference--if the MLA is ever near me again (unlikely, given my current location) I'd go just for the sweet, sweet book exhibit (and the halfway decent swag, though the swag at my partner's engineering conferences is much better). Yep, book display. Thousands of titles. Half price last day. Tons of books to cart around for the rest of your life. Lousy coffee. It's better later, when you can go off drinking and dining irresponsibly and expensively with friends from grad school. It's fun to go and look at how old your former colleagues look when you go to your department's cash bar. There actually are good papers, and some very big names will give the big addresses. I haven't been for five or six years, as the dark side has gotten darker, but that's now a lot because I only get a week off at Christmas and don't want to spend half of it at the convention. |
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Wearing a black armband for Lucy
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voxprincipalis
Foxaliciously Cinnamon-Scented (and Most Poetic)
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,438
Has potentially infinite removable wallets
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« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2009, 09:08:10 PM » |
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I have always wanted to go to MLA. I think it's fun to go to conferences that aren't in your discipline. You learn a lot, and you get to see some really freaking bizarre academic behavior that people in your field would never ever do.
VP
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2009, 09:52:38 PM » |
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I have always wanted to go to MLA. I think it's fun to go to conferences that aren't in your discipline. You learn a lot, and you get to see some really freaking bizarre academic behavior that people in your field would never ever do.
VP
My thoughts precisely. I would honestly love to go to a new academic conference in a different city every year. I know I would love AHA, MLA, APA, but I bet I'd get a huge kick out of some science and social science ones. AAG would be at the top of the list. (I'm learning about GIS right now.) |
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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mountainguy
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« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2009, 10:02:02 PM » |
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My thoughts precisely. I would honestly love to go to a new academic conference in a different city every year. I know I would love AHA, MLA, APA, but I bet I'd get a huge kick out of some science and social science ones. AAG would be at the top of the list. (I'm learning about GIS right now.)
I'm seriously going to ASA (American Sociological Association) one of these years. There are people there who are asking the same research questions that I am, using methods that I find interesting. Although I have to say that I'm afraid of being asked why I was there. People would think I was from PepsiU's sociology department, and there would be people from the PepsiU sociology department there, which would be weird . . . Then again, I suppose that's different than going to a conference simply to watch the spectacle. |
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tuxedo_cat
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« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2009, 10:46:56 PM » |
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Guess what? I received my first ever brochure for the MLA conference today! Should I go? Will I get to see lots of big names? Is there deep thinking and carousing? What's in it for? Help!
Oh, yes. Please! Will you organize the Fora Meat-Up? I think if you did it, people would actually show up. (confess: this is the real reason why you posted this thread) |
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"Calling all cows! Calling all cows! Report to Head Moo!"
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galactic_hedgehog
Procrastinating, Python-quoting, Blue Blazer-drinking, chocolate-chip cookie-eating, Pastafarian, Not So
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,915
Mind Ninja
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« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2009, 11:25:41 PM » |
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It's in Philly, right? Maybe I could go...
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"A pun is primâ facie an insult to the person you are talking with. It implies utter indifference to or sublime contempt for his remarks, no matter how serious." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Hedgie loves to read. |
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bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,255
softwears
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« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2009, 04:37:06 PM » |
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I have always wanted to go to MLA. I think it's fun to go to conferences that aren't in your discipline. You learn a lot, and you get to see some really freaking bizarre academic behavior that people in your field would never ever do.
VP
My thoughts precisely. I would honestly love to go to a new academic conference in a different city every year. I know I would love AHA, MLA, APA, but I bet I'd get a huge kick out of some science and social science ones. AAG would be at the top of the list. (I'm learning about GIS right now.) I had a day pass to one of the bigger GIS user conferences this year. I was surprised at how boring most of the posters were, but the user assist panels were worthwhile if you have time to do the work afterwards. Not an easy technology with which to didactically dazzle without excellent data and design skills, but oh so seductive. USGS had a cool exhibit. (it had examples of every generation of map drawing and technological advance from the inception of the survey represented in their booth, but this is cool too) You should definitely try to hit a user conference, there is a lot more diversity of discipline beyond geographers and many sessions to hone your skills. |
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In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2009, 04:47:08 PM » |
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I have always wanted to go to MLA. I think it's fun to go to conferences that aren't in your discipline. You learn a lot, and you get to see some really freaking bizarre academic behavior that people in your field would never ever do.
VP
My thoughts precisely. I would honestly love to go to a new academic conference in a different city every year. I know I would love AHA, MLA, APA, but I bet I'd get a huge kick out of some science and social science ones. AAG would be at the top of the list. (I'm learning about GIS right now.) I had a day pass to one of the bigger GIS user conferences this year. I was surprised at how boring most of the posters were, but the user assist panels were worthwhile if you have time to do the work afterwards. Not an easy technology with which to didactically dazzle without excellent data and design skills, but oh so seductive. USGS had a cool exhibit. (it had examples of every generation of map drawing and technological advance from the inception of the survey represented in their booth, but this is cool too) You should definitely try to hit a user conference, there is a lot more diversity of discipline beyond geographers and many sessions to hone your skills. Thank you so much for this post, BPN, and for the link! I am a rank beginner with GIS, and I am actively scouting places from which to soak up more info. I am hoping to take an ESRI class soon, and as soon as I've got some basic skills, I will actively seek out a user conference! |
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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paddington_bear
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« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2009, 04:47:59 PM » |
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I hate the MLA. It's too big, and most of the sessions are boring (to me). At least they're moving the conference to January in 2011 (there's no conference in 2010). I'm awful at conferences, though (I don't socialize and I don't network) so I'm probably the wrong person to respond! :)
paddington
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