I think this kind of post is so important and should get highlighted on the front page every time shortly before an EAG. Just so people get reminded that this is a thing.
For a more personal addition: I found EAG and now the days afterwards really difficult to navigate. It was my first (Iāve been to one EAGx before). I knew I was supposed to schedule 1:1s, but didnāt, because I didnāt really have a goal for EAG. I have a job that I like and want to keep doing for a bit. There was no particular question I had for anyone. I just wanted to be there, see a few talks, see some friends again, thatās about it.
At the same time, I felt so much pressure to āmake the most of itā. Thereās so much talk about what āthe perfect amount of 1:1sā is, that āEAG is an incredible opportunityā, almost like itās a āonce-in-a-lifetimeā-thing. I even got mocked by a few people for not scheduling more 1:1s. And itās justā¦ really anxiety-inducing.
Really liked the idea of having a space where people are explicitly invited to sit with a stranger (and think this should be improved upon in the future), because itās a nice addition if you donāt have a talk to attend but also didnāt schedule something else in.
So my takeaway is: Itās okay that people have wildly different experiences at EAG. Itās okay to not know what exactly you want to get out of the conference. And itās okay to just have a chill time there.
I do think the focus on 1:1s is a bit over-intense. Obviously they can be really helpful or interesting with the right people, but it feels a bit like (some) EAs were like āmoderate amounts of this thing is obviously goodāmaybe EXTREME amounts would be EVEN BETTERā. More dakka is definitely an appropriate attitude sometimes, but sometimes itās better to have a balance of mutually-enhancing different things (in this case, a balance of 1:1s, unstructured hanging-out-with-strangers, talks, catching up with friends, and rest, perhaps?)
Incidentally, I really enjoyed being a Logistics volunteer at EAGx Cambridge, because it gave me a break from all the intense people-ing, and I brought more energy to the interactions I did have.
Itās also kinda funny that the organisers put all this effort into producing talks, and then kinda dissuade people from going to them! (even though some of them are really good).
Iām very sorry to hear people mocked youāthat is not acceptable behavior and Iām sorry you experienced it.
I agree with the talk to a stranger thing! I think Iāve noted it as far back as 2018 in my feedback forms to have more spaces like thisāespecially having dining tables with signs to join people at meal times. I also think I noticed people huddling more along org lines this conference than at previous ones, which makes sense but is a bit sad (since those folks already know each other).
I think this kind of post is so important and should get highlighted on the front page every time shortly before an EAG. Just so people get reminded that this is a thing.
For a more personal addition:
I found EAG and now the days afterwards really difficult to navigate. It was my first (Iāve been to one EAGx before). I knew I was supposed to schedule 1:1s, but didnāt, because I didnāt really have a goal for EAG. I have a job that I like and want to keep doing for a bit. There was no particular question I had for anyone. I just wanted to be there, see a few talks, see some friends again, thatās about it.
At the same time, I felt so much pressure to āmake the most of itā. Thereās so much talk about what āthe perfect amount of 1:1sā is, that āEAG is an incredible opportunityā, almost like itās a āonce-in-a-lifetimeā-thing. I even got mocked by a few people for not scheduling more 1:1s. And itās justā¦ really anxiety-inducing.
Really liked the idea of having a space where people are explicitly invited to sit with a stranger (and think this should be improved upon in the future), because itās a nice addition if you donāt have a talk to attend but also didnāt schedule something else in.
So my takeaway is: Itās okay that people have wildly different experiences at EAG. Itās okay to not know what exactly you want to get out of the conference. And itās okay to just have a chill time there.
I do think the focus on 1:1s is a bit over-intense. Obviously they can be really helpful or interesting with the right people, but it feels a bit like (some) EAs were like āmoderate amounts of this thing is obviously goodāmaybe EXTREME amounts would be EVEN BETTERā. More dakka is definitely an appropriate attitude sometimes, but sometimes itās better to have a balance of mutually-enhancing different things (in this case, a balance of 1:1s, unstructured hanging-out-with-strangers, talks, catching up with friends, and rest, perhaps?)
Incidentally, I really enjoyed being a Logistics volunteer at EAGx Cambridge, because it gave me a break from all the intense people-ing, and I brought more energy to the interactions I did have.
Itās also kinda funny that the organisers put all this effort into producing talks, and then kinda dissuade people from going to them! (even though some of them are really good).
Hey Jana, thanks for sharing.
Iām very sorry to hear people mocked youāthat is not acceptable behavior and Iām sorry you experienced it.
I agree with the talk to a stranger thing! I think Iāve noted it as far back as 2018 in my feedback forms to have more spaces like thisāespecially having dining tables with signs to join people at meal times. I also think I noticed people huddling more along org lines this conference than at previous ones, which makes sense but is a bit sad (since those folks already know each other).