As I mentioned on one of those Facebook threads: At least don’t bill the event as a global conference for EA people and then tell people no you can’t come. Call it maybe the EA Professionals Networking Event or something, which (a) makes it clear this is for networking and not the kind of academic conference people might be used to, and (b) implies this might be exclusive. But if you bill it as a global conference, then make it be like a global conference. And at the very least make it very clear that it’s exclusive! Personally I didn’t notice any mention of exclusivity at all in any EA Global posts or advertising until I heard about people actually getting rejected and feeling bad about that.
My interpretation of the “Global” part in EAG is ‘from around the world’, not ‘everyone is invited’. E.g. for EAGxAustralia it seems like you’re much more likely to get accepted if you’re based in Australia or the Asia Pacific, because it’s about building the community there. But EA Global is about connecting people across these different communities, and doesn’t prioritise admissions based on geographical closeness.
Honestly I’m super confused why people perceive ‘EA Global’ as an inclusive-sounding name. Especially in contrast to ‘EAGx’, which evokes the TEDx vs TED contrast, where TEDxes have a much lower bar, are scrappier and more community based.
I mean, from the moment I first had to apply I felt it was exclusive—but only in the sense of “they select the people whom the conference would most help to increase their impact”. So once I was rejected from one, I didn’t feel offended. I did get accepted for the very first one I applied to, so maybe that’s the reason. I was already a few years in the movement by then though.
As I mentioned on one of those Facebook threads: At least don’t bill the event as a global conference for EA people and then tell people no you can’t come. Call it maybe the EA Professionals Networking Event or something, which (a) makes it clear this is for networking and not the kind of academic conference people might be used to, and (b) implies this might be exclusive. But if you bill it as a global conference, then make it be like a global conference. And at the very least make it very clear that it’s exclusive! Personally I didn’t notice any mention of exclusivity at all in any EA Global posts or advertising until I heard about people actually getting rejected and feeling bad about that.
My interpretation of the “Global” part in EAG is ‘from around the world’, not ‘everyone is invited’. E.g. for EAGxAustralia it seems like you’re much more likely to get accepted if you’re based in Australia or the Asia Pacific, because it’s about building the community there. But EA Global is about connecting people across these different communities, and doesn’t prioritise admissions based on geographical closeness.
Honestly I’m super confused why people perceive ‘EA Global’ as an inclusive-sounding name. Especially in contrast to ‘EAGx’, which evokes the TEDx vs TED contrast, where TEDxes have a much lower bar, are scrappier and more community based.
I mean, from the moment I first had to apply I felt it was exclusive—but only in the sense of “they select the people whom the conference would most help to increase their impact”. So once I was rejected from one, I didn’t feel offended. I did get accepted for the very first one I applied to, so maybe that’s the reason. I was already a few years in the movement by then though.
What are these FB threads that are being referenced out of curiosity? Feels very in-groupey.
It really does!