Between the constantly moving bodies, talking mouths, mismatched tshirts, and incessant tweeting, it's totally easy to involuntarily check out mentally. Crazy amounts of time goes by and even crazier amounts of information gets dumped on all of us here.
But I love it.
Props to everyone for making it halfway. Like after crossing the finish line of a marathon, I think we should get wrapped in cellophane at the end of this. Or get a medal of some sort. This is the first time that I really feel like this week is some kind of hybrid race -- spans of time requiring incredible concentration, sore bodies, unfortunate amounts of not-so-subtle glances to your fellow racers, and lots of running shoes. But, instead of water, we have ample beer breaks . . .
Just like the collective running culture, I'm watching an amazingly wise group of people zip around Austin this week. So, so wise. (Some are self-accredited in their wisdom and kind of ignorant, but the really great minds make up for those few exceptions). Obviously, I think it's everyone's goal here to tap into this wisdom, but oftentimes it can become an all-too-focused pursuit on our parts -- totally get that there's value in analyzing each panel on a micro level, but it's also important to have some more moments of reflection. Think macro a bit. What are we getting out of this whole tech incubation?
I'd imagine we all have different answers. I'm still working on a mine.
Anyway, wanted to take a halfway look at some of the pieces I was able to catch over the past few days. Some are uplifting and inspiring, while some are borderline offensive. All of them, however, are equally pithy. Here goes:
On social bonding and intimacy:
"Men, don't have sex with a woman unless you're ready for her to be glued to you for 2 weeks or until they have their period." (panel on bonding and intimacy) On old movies and music:
"$1 things are the biggest disruptions in the marketplace." (panel on power shift between creators and audience) On privacy:
"Just because something's publicly accessible, doesn't mean it should be publicized." (keynote speaker, Dannah Boyd) On designing for the future:
"The ability to think about the future is evaporating." (panel on Design Fiction)
On the publicity / privacy divide:
"These are living things." (keynote speaker, Dannah Boyd)On movements:
"The thing that keeps a movement going is the same thing that keeps you from flaking on your friend's birthday party." (Scott Heiferman) On innovation:
"There's no point in innovating if you think you already know the answer." (TrendHunter)On drawing:
"We have not fully explored an idea until we're talked about it and drawn it out. We cannot share an idea until we've talked about it and drawn it out." (Dan Roam)On predictions:
"We don't really know what we want. Our environment largely affects our decisions." (Dan Ariely)On sustainability:
"When will we stop thinking that less bad is good?" (keynote speaker, Val Casey) On social action:
"Social awareness has a tranquilizing effect." (keynote speaker, Val Casey)
I'm learning almost more just by watching everyone soak up all this stuff. It's fascinating. An incubated social psych experiment of sorts. Pretty great . . .
Anyway, off to grab a beer with an old friend. Some more thoughts later. Hopefully less hodgepodgy at the next check-in . . .
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