Stubbing: Can't sign this pledge since pragmatically I doubt I can avoid panels entirely since they'

Stubbing: Can't sign this pledge since pragmatically I doubt I can avoid panels entirely since they're sometimes a necessary evil, but spiritually I'm

Can’t sign this pledge since pragmatically I doubt I can avoid panels entirely since they’re sometimes a necessary evil, but spiritually I’m fully behind this pledge to end panels

Ht Patrick Atwater

The funny thing is that everyone knows panels are bad (even the people who plan them), but panels aren't really about delivering good programming.

I used to work at a media org who made most of its money off conferences (not unusual). The irony of conferences is that no one actually comes to watch the programming, and yet the programming is why they come — indirectly.

High quality speakers signals semi-high quality attendees that they should buy a ticket, but then no one watches the programming. They spend all their time networking. People come to conferences to network. The programming adds very little actual value. It's weird.

So the reason for panels is simple: It allows conference programmers to get more faces on stage that they can then put in their promo materials. If the faces are on stage, then they will also be on the conference floor, and attendees might get a chance to meet them. It's still just about the networking.

And yet, can you do a conference without programming? Absolutely not. No one would come. It's such a bizarre quirk of our society.

So, yes, panels are useless as content, but they serve a purpose — even, to an extent, for conference attendees.

One last note: Even though panels are useless, for a certain class of people, it is very important to be on them. Even tho I had nothing to do with conference programming at my old organization (it was legitimately firewalled), people were always hounding me to help them get on these dumb panels that hardly anyone watched and no one learned anything from! It's sto strange!