107: Sylvain Grand’Maison, Jay Moonah and the Backchannel
Saturday, June 7, 2008 - Filed under: Podcasts
According to my flickr search, this is the only picture that features Sylvain, Jay, Bob and Mark. It’s from PAB2006, and it’s the now traditional group shot we take on saturday afternoon. Will you be in this picture this year?
In other words, have you registered for PAB yet?
NEWS / BANTER
- Thoughts to Dave Brodbeck & family
- Ross is on the mend
- Bob’s radio interview on Live 88.5 (audio here)
- Social Media Orphan PSA
EVENTS AND MEETUPS
- Mark’s FREE Interview Skills webcast
- Niagara-on-the-Lake meetup, August 16
- Podcasting Contest! (For Canadian immigrants) migr@tions at rciviva.ca .
- Countdown to PAB Report from Tommy Vallier (Limestone New Media Group)
- First Capital Days celebration
- Check out the interactive map at pabmap.limestonenewmediagroup.ca
- Questions about Kingston? email pab@limestonenewmediagroup.ca
- Send a 2-3 minute highlight of your podcast to podcastersacrossborders@gmail.com
- Your show isn’t listed?? Submit it now!
INTERVIEW
- Sylvain Grand’Maison from le Quebec en Baladodiffusion
TALK OF THE WEEK
- Jay Moonah from Media Driving joins us to discuss conference backchannels
- Bob’s blog post after PAB2007, Jay’s recent discussion. Your thoughts?
CONTACT US
- email: canadianpodcastbuffet@gmail.com
- facebook group: Canadian Podcast Buffet
- feedback: +1-267-220-3701
- forums: CPB and PAB
- wiki: canadianpodcastbuffet.ca/wiki
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (42.1MB)
Hey Bob! You forgot about the PAB2007 family photo in Jim Milles’ photo stream.
I no forget nothing!
I simply pulled up what the flickr search revealed.
Let this be a lesson to all of you, images/audio/video aren’t searchable, but text is!
Is a password needed to access content on the wiki? For me, most pages say: “The action you have requested is limited to users in the group user.”
Also, one suggestion: you might want to put a permanent link to it from the Buffet blog.
I think the wiki is a great idea.
Cheers,
Connie
Thanks for the thoughts guys, and thanks to everyone that has sent their wishes, kind thoughts and donations to http://www.caringbridge.org.
Dave, Isa, Jon and Maddie
Regarding the backchannel thing, a couple points – okay, opinions.
Being in the conference room on a backchannel is not the same as being at home listening to/watching a stream. There is an energy in the room and a thousand things you can see out of the corner of your eye or feel or smell (yikes) that you would not get from a stream. The environment is all part of the context which effects what someone might say on a backchannel, which is not a hermetically sealed tunnel (although, depending on what you smell, there might be an argument for that…).
I think it’s been made quite clear that communicating by typing and communicating live in the same physical space is different. Or maybe it hasn’t been made clear enough, I don’t know. Because in-the-flesh communication, one-on-one and especially within the context of a small-to-large group in a conference, has a huge set of subconscious rules and protocols where much discussion just doesn’t fit in. God bless him, Jay fights on regardless and says what comes up in his mind and makes great points no matter if he’s just said something or whatever, and we make gentle, well-meaning fun of him for talking too much. Of course, he can take it, but most of us aren’t like him. And you know, if we all did become like him, PAB would have to extend to a week. That’s not a joke. There is a framework.
So there are these other levels, these other channels, that work under and beyond the framework of a conference and of face-to-face social conventions, where, granted, some people screw around, but some people also feel freer to share and discuss. It’s not about being anonymous, but it’s just what we’re used to, it’s what we’re comfortable with, it’s what works for us. Personally, I have a difficult time remaining linear when trying to express a point verbally in front of people (much less standing in the middle of a big room waiting for a microphone to get handed to me), and a harder time adjusting when a response is made. I get a sort of ADHD in the middle of things. Probably anyone who’s heard the Description podcast has had a taste of that.
So maybe that makes me a freak, but it also makes podcasting a good thing for me.
Should those little clackety-clacking possums come out of their hole and actually talk to actual people standing in front of them with actual spoken words and listen back to more actual spoken words? Of course. That is important, especially at PAB. But I think *all* levels of sharing and discussion are important no matter how they’re accomplished. It’s all part of the greater good, while acknowledging basic respect should be maintained on all levels, all ways.
For the record, I’m planning to not take my laptop the first day of PAB, but will be taking my iPod Touch with its sound effects off, and see how it goes.
Great discussions all episode, guys, with Jay and with Sylvain. Thanks.
You know, I talk in front of people for a living, so I am biased. All of that said, if people want to be engaged they have to pay attention. (There are data on this I could go into, but umm, listen to my lectures to learn more…..)
The content of last year’s ‘backchannel’ was at best tangential, at worst, it looked like children passing notes in class.
The other thing I think, and this is my impression, is that it segregated people into two groups, the cool kids and the rest of us.
Though it is a different type of situation, this is on every course syllabus of mine:
CELLPHONE/COMPUTER/PDA POLICY
If you prefer to take notes with your laptop that is fine. If I find you chatting or checking out youtube videos or doing anything that has nothing to do with the class you will be asked to leave (and it won’t really be a request….).
Your cellphone MUST be turned off in class. This is common courtesy. I do NOT want to hear a phone ring. I do NOT want to have to pick up your phone and tell the person on the other end of the call that he or she is a jerk that is interrupting my class.
Do NOT wear headphones in class. I don’t care how cool your iPod or Zune (like anyone has a Zune…) is. Don’t do it.
I believe quite strongly that there’s no reason for the backchannel. It’s common courtesy to give your full attention to the person presenting. If you aren’t prepared to give your full attention, your conversation ought to be taking place outside of the room. If people aren’t interested in the topic, what are they doing there in the room?
I’m with Sage with regards to respectfully participating especially while presentations are going on. What was most problematic for me was when folks moved beyond ‘children passing notes in class’ where some people started walking and yes running back and forth laughing and giggling out-loud as well as reading outloud the exchanges going on in the backchannel.
Giving ‘not paying attention and being a giggly disrespectful twit’ a name (backchannel) seems to somehow legitimize such beahviour for some.
If you don’t want to hear the speaker, get up and go. Or, sit still for 40 minutes, how hard is that?
This discussion points to a reason why I’m attracted to unconferences like Podcamp. I love the law of 2 feet; if a particular session isn’t doing it for me, I can move on.
Over the weekend I saw how much distance separates Cincinnati, Ohio and Kingston, Ontario. Probably would be better to fly to PAB some year versus driving. Not this year, though.
Make it a great day!