I'm sorry this event did not capture the moment. I really appreciated at the end getting an idea of what gatherings of this kind can look like when freed from decades of sticky norms and institutions mostly interested in their self-perpetuation.
I wonder about the amount of prep and care folks who are platformed at events like these exhibit. How much thought goes into what they want to say, and how broad is their introspection to arrive at potentials like you describe?
I watched a recent conference presentation by a podcaster and speaker I deeply respect where he specifically tackled what he felt was a core principle and need of the community. Furthermore, he consciously pivoted the back half of his talk to address another speaker's recent remarks that felt out of step to him. To me, this felt like someone digging deeper into The Point of the conference and the movement as a whole when often so much can be standard fare. I could feel his commitment to moving the conversation forward to productive spaces.
We've had 2 weeks, and I'm beginning to see plans and responses forming to our alarming, confusing, and harmful reality. Even this post has sparked something in me to pursue firmer assertions of our values in spaces I can control.
Oh, that sounds really worthwhile, the presentation that you describe. I know there's a danger in falling too deep into discussions of values and norms and not getting anything done, but I think stating the values clearly and using them as explicit guidance is always preferable to more shallow engagement.
On how to prepare, I think this is really tough and can vary. When I organized in graduate school we'd sometimes take half a year to prep two days of workshops, but sometimes it could be done in a week. In crisis, I think it really depends on how people use their skill in complementary ways, and if they can identify where their skills are most likely to shine to begin with. I think this too has to do with values, like mask blocs distributing masks in LA or mutual aid after disasters - people who acted most effectively and most quickly were people who were already living in line with certain principles.
I'm really glad that this resonated with people. Even for me putting it all down in words made me think about putting together something for trans folks in my neck of the sciences.
Oh wow I was at cu*ip this year too! Loved hearing your perspective, beautifully written <3
So many illuminating statements of truth here. Thank you.
I'm sorry this event did not capture the moment. I really appreciated at the end getting an idea of what gatherings of this kind can look like when freed from decades of sticky norms and institutions mostly interested in their self-perpetuation.
I wonder about the amount of prep and care folks who are platformed at events like these exhibit. How much thought goes into what they want to say, and how broad is their introspection to arrive at potentials like you describe?
I watched a recent conference presentation by a podcaster and speaker I deeply respect where he specifically tackled what he felt was a core principle and need of the community. Furthermore, he consciously pivoted the back half of his talk to address another speaker's recent remarks that felt out of step to him. To me, this felt like someone digging deeper into The Point of the conference and the movement as a whole when often so much can be standard fare. I could feel his commitment to moving the conversation forward to productive spaces.
We've had 2 weeks, and I'm beginning to see plans and responses forming to our alarming, confusing, and harmful reality. Even this post has sparked something in me to pursue firmer assertions of our values in spaces I can control.
Oh, that sounds really worthwhile, the presentation that you describe. I know there's a danger in falling too deep into discussions of values and norms and not getting anything done, but I think stating the values clearly and using them as explicit guidance is always preferable to more shallow engagement.
On how to prepare, I think this is really tough and can vary. When I organized in graduate school we'd sometimes take half a year to prep two days of workshops, but sometimes it could be done in a week. In crisis, I think it really depends on how people use their skill in complementary ways, and if they can identify where their skills are most likely to shine to begin with. I think this too has to do with values, like mask blocs distributing masks in LA or mutual aid after disasters - people who acted most effectively and most quickly were people who were already living in line with certain principles.
I'm really glad that this resonated with people. Even for me putting it all down in words made me think about putting together something for trans folks in my neck of the sciences.