Comments on: Conference Envy

By: Leah

Leah — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:06:22 +0000

GP – that phrase of a picture being worth a thousand words certainly comes to light when trying to describe the “big sky” that exists in both Montana and parts of outback Australia. Words just can’t capture the enormity and beauty of it sometimes.

And when it comes to connecting with people nothing will replace the ability to be in each others presence.

By: GP

GP — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 03:14:53 +0000

greetings from Montana… big sky country
Ah the joys of the blogosphere.. we are so close yet so far. Proving that perhaps a “picture” (face to face meeting) can sometimes be worth more than the proverbial thousand words.

GP in Montana

By: Change the World: The Power of WE - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once.

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:36:57 +0000

[...] Connections wrote about how, if Australia were closer she could be part of SOBcon 07. Leah MacLean wrote about Chris’ post with a suggestion and a questionn about how SOBcon started. Leah’s post generated a pile of [...]

By: Des Walsh

Des Walsh — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:34:26 +0000

You’re quite right about wanting to meet face to face the people we connect with online. The event that was supposed to happen in Brisbane in a week or so from now has been postponed “sine die” as the lawyers say, supposedly to August. But Leah, it’s great that you are willing to be nudged to step up and put something together: consider yourself so nudged by me, as well as by Chris. Maybe Sydney or Melbourne, so we are not competing with what Peter Black at QUT is keen still to put together up here in beautiful one day perfect the next country.

By: Chris Owen

Chris Owen — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:21:55 +0000

Well Well Well!
It just goes to show that having a bleat and sharing your disappointments makes things happen in all kinds of unexpected ways!
Clearly got you rolling Leah!
And all these terrific comments!!
I think you should be tempted to take action Leah! Go on! I dare you!!!
And to answer your questions:
There’s no way I’d ever go to a geeky blog conference I’d drown in techo.
But what i do want is to talk to other “normal” people who blog and share our wisdom and experiences and inexperiences
As well as learn some easily implementable improvements to blogging technique and simple technical stuff.
At least that’s what I’d be after!!

By: Wendy Piersall

Wendy Piersall — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:21:25 +0000

You know, I can totally relate, even though I am smack-dab in the middle of it all near Chicago! There are conferences in Vegas and California that I would love to go to, but when you add in the travel costs, it really makes it cost-prohibitive to do as much as we want. Add to that three kids who would need a sitter for a weekend, and I resign myself tothe fact that it really is up to us to create our own opportunities.

One of my readers lamented the same thing as you are, and I suggested to her privately that she try to set up a Melbourne meetup for bloggers, and send an invitation to Darren/Des personally. They may or may not be able to attend, but meeting the rest of the area people would be well worth the time, imho.

By: Carolyn Manning

Carolyn Manning — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:22:28 +0000

Yes, Leah, connection is a desire we all have. And it’s a desire we can realize. Because we have this Internet, we have an ability for immediate and constant connection; we, unlike generations of writers before us, have been blessed.

It’s ok if we can’t meet all of our online buddies in person. We still have amazing, wonderful, and warm access to each other.

Carolyn

By: Leah

Leah — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:25:34 +0000

I agree Carolyn. I know many US-based bloggers that often talk wistfully about being able to visit, or as you suggest, move to Australia.

I suspect one of the reasons that some of us Aussies want to get to the USA conferences is so that we can connect with our online buddies in person. So the desire is for connection rather than the location. And I think that connection is a universal desire.

By: Carolyn Manning

Carolyn Manning — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:22:27 +0000

Oh! Where are my manners? Thanks so much for adding me to the Solo Links.

Carolyn

By: Carolyn Manning

Carolyn Manning — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:21:09 +0000

Leah, Chris’ lament brought a wry smile because we all tend to think things are better somewhere else. We have historic site envy (better to fly to France from Pennsylvania than to visit nearby Philadelphia), vacation spot envy (but, I’ve never seen the ocean from the other coast); we’ll put down our toys every time if someone else has something a little different.

Australia has many talented and wonderful bloggers. In fact, now that I think about it, I might have to move . . . .

Carolyn