Posted on 09/19/2008 9:11:12 AM PDT by awildanimal
GEORGE BUSH IS EVIL!!! CONSERVATIVES ARE EVIL!!!! CONSERVATIVES ARE STEALING FOOD AND MONEY FROM BABIES AND CHILDREN AND GIVING THEN TO RICH RACIST NAZIS IN GOVNERMENT!! THEY ARE STARTING HOLOCAUSTS AGAINST MINORITES WOMEN AND THE POOR!! THEY HATE THE POOR AND TAKE FROM THEM AND GIVE IT TO THE RICH!!! CONSERVATIVES ARE NAZIS!! MY SISTER HAS A HIGH IQ!~!! CONSERVAITIVES ARE BOMBING CHILDREN IN IRAK AND IRAN!! THEY ARE KILLING BABIES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WHITE AND RICH LIKE THE CONSERVATIVES ARE!!! THEY ARE ALL RACIST AND EVIL!!
I participate in a lot of teleconferences (most North Americans plus a European or three) and they're useful for some kinds of work, such as reviewing documents, but they're really bad for more creative/debative situations because your full range of expression is reduced to voice on the phone. The situation is worsened considerably when some participants do not have a good command of English.
The situation is helped a little by LiveMeeting and other sharing and collaboration technologies, but the communications are still restricted. I gave a presentation Friday morning for folks across North America, U.K., Europe and India, but because I couldn't see their faces I couldn't tell if they were with me, or if anyone was puzzling out something I'd said.
But even with all that, a session that runs over two hours is grueling. (Last year I spent an entire day called into a meeting elsewhere in the country -- not fun.)
Plus if you're not meeting face-to-face there's no real possibility for break-time lobbying. (Which can be important.) Or "team-building" exercises like beers and/or dinner together after the meetings (really important because for most of us our employers are competitors in the marketplace).
About 10 years my committee figured out that e-mail was a bad way to do business too. At first it was really cool and we happily launched into our fun technical debates. But as time went on, we discovered we were easily spending all our time just reading and banging out e-mails, it taking an entire day to conduct a discussion that might run 10 - 15 minutes face-to-face.
The video technologies promised a lot and in fact several years ago a "videophone" (camera and monitor with an Internet connection) showed up in one of our conference rooms. It was used one&off for two to three years, and now just sits there collecting dust. I never used it so I don't know what the problem was, but it clearly just didn't work out.
It would be nice to be home more often, but there is nothing as good as face-to-face.
almost top of the page tae ye!
You guys need to hear Al Gore singing “What A Horrible World”.
http://mfile.akamai.com/5020/wma/rus...ribleworld.asx
Kinda makes your day.
I see your point. You are responsible, so you have to be, well, responsible.
I am also thankful I don't have to travel like that.
All my best to you in your travels.
McCain, OTOH.....
You could benefit from the technology I described in "At The AIport".
It wouldn't permit face-to-'Face or beer drinking, but it could allow one on one bull sessions, and there's even an advantage of having some control over your appearance.
Other than very high-speed and high quality communication channels, it would require a few more developments in robotics, but not a prohibitive amount.
We have most of it already. What we lack is the entreprenurial folks to put it together and make it a salable commodity.
There's also a security angle. If I were Salman Rushdie, this is the arrangement I'd want.
I won’t permit ‘Face-to-face, either....
I went to the link, but it said the video is no longer available.
McCain’s presentation at the Alfred E. Smith dinner is great though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irXS4Q7mUKQ
I approve that part.
What we lack is the entreprenurial folks to put it together and make it a salable commodity.
And, so..... What?
You can't be an entrepreneur?
Do it! I'll invest.
Blow us away, Bob.
I was laughing out loud at McCain’s jokes that evening.
0bama bombed. As it were.
It would depend on the circumstances.
;-)
You mean, like yesterday’s conversation?
Yepper.
:o])
Did I mention I just received a "Silver Elite" card from a hotel chain?
Oh yeah. That stuff. *\;-)
Helloooooooo, undead thread!
Have a wonderful evening, everyone.
:-)
HEY! How’s it going?
Yep. That looks just like Dr. Demento Dean, alright!
You too, Sis!
*HUG*
I’m gone for the night, folks. Y’all be good!
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