• CaptObvious@literature.cafe
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    4 months ago

    One positive from the pandemic was the realization that in-person conferences are almost always a waste of time and money.

    If an online conference goes sideways, it’s easy enough to close the browser and carry on.

    • DickFiasco@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      In-person meetings too. My company used to fly people across the country for one-day meetings. In a shocking revelation, that turned out to be unnecessary when the pandemic forced most meetings to be virtual.

      • CaptObvious@literature.cafe
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        4 months ago

        Great gods. I don’t even drive across town for staff meetings. There’s always a video call alternative, and about half our personnel use it.

    • Nachorella@lemmy.sdf.org
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      4 months ago

      I like them because so long as it’s paid for by work it’s just a paid vacation, you don’t really need to attend anything, just go to some museums, use your allowance to get some food. Nobody asks questions.

    • MBM@lemmings.world
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      4 months ago

      I like in-person conferences. Online ones are okay for just giving/watching presentations, but you miss out on the random interactions with others in your field.

      • CaptObvious@literature.cafe
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        4 months ago

        Ugh. I don’t go to conferences to socialize. I realize that many people do, but I don’t think that’s an appropriate use of institutional resources.

    • trolske@feddit.org
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      4 months ago

      I kinda disagree. Even though I absolute loath the networking part of conferences, I came to hate online conferences even more. Listening to researchers with terrible microphones (because who is going to spend money on it if you use it once in a blue moon) is really not worth it.
      Poster sessions are even worse. I was sitting in my private zoom call to present my poster, one or two persons dropped in, didn’t react when I asked if I should give them the spiel, and then just left.
      Online conferences for me concentrate all of the negative aspects with none of the fun parts.

      • CaptObvious@literature.cafe
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        4 months ago

        I haven’t experienced mics bad enough to make me wish I were there in person. And I haven’t had that experience in any online poster hall, but maybe I just got lucky?