# Would you attend a Straight Dope Symposium/Conference? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467 "2011-08-04T15:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/1 "2011-08-04T15:09:16Z")
Imagine a number of different sessions, some fun, some serious: **Great Debates** : 5 minute debates pitting zealous know-it-alls against each other **General Questions** : Jeopardy style? Or maybe a panel of frequent posters answering audience questions… **SDMB stories** : People share narratives of odd or compelling stories relating to SD posts etc., etc. Assume logistics are not an issue and you’d have no problem getting there. Let’s add an open bar too. And Cecil would be there… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/2 "2011-08-04T15:15:18Z")
This sounds awesome. I’d more likely be an observer than a participator. At least at first. But I’d totally show. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/3 "2011-08-04T15:15:28Z")
No. Dopers should be judged on their words and the merit of their arguments, not their real life appearance. The sight of “faces” or “clothes” or “people” would only distracti from the discussion at hand. Besides, in a serious panoptic symposium, do we really need to see cheesy and juvenile “faces” with makeup, earrings, or styled hair? I also know the tone of the discussion will change if others can see who I’m debating with or talking to. What if there’s a really hot woman there who makes all the other women jealous? No, no, no, a thousand times no. Even if you can “opt out” and attend by speakerphone, no. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/4 "2011-08-04T15:20:35Z")
I volunteer to run the Hospitality Suite. That’s where the best stories will probably be told. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/5 "2011-08-06T04:06:59Z")
Yeah but only as a lurker. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/6 "2011-08-06T04:14:48Z")
Oh hell yes. Everybody here knows what I look like and I’ve attended enough DopeFests that there will be people I know everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/7 "2011-08-06T04:16:47Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > No. Dopers should be judged on their words and the merit of their arguments, not their real life appearance. The sight of “faces” or “clothes” or “people” would only distracti from the discussion at hand. Besides, in a serious panoptic symposium, do we really need to see cheesy and juvenile “faces” with makeup, earrings, or styled hair? I also know the tone of the discussion will change if others can see who I’m debating with or talking to. What if there’s a really hot woman there who makes all the other women jealous? > > No, no, no, a thousand times no. Even if you can “opt out” and attend by speakerphone, no. I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/8 "2011-08-06T07:12:45Z")
No. Going into why would get me Pitted, so … yeah. No. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/9 "2011-08-06T15:46:54Z")
Yes, if we can make it a Symposium On Advanced Food And Drink Consumption and hold the conference [here](http://www.stinkysfishcamp.com). ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-attend-a-straight-dope-symposium-conference/591467/10 "2011-08-06T16:03:33Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > No. Dopers should be judged on their words and the merit of their arguments, not their real life appearance. The sight of “faces” or “clothes” or “people” would only distracti from the discussion at hand. Besides, in a serious panoptic symposium, do we really need to see cheesy and juvenile “faces” with makeup, earrings, or styled hair? I also know the tone of the discussion will change if others can see who I’m debating with or talking to. What if there’s a really hot woman there who makes all the other women jealous? > > No, no, no, a thousand times no. Even if you can “opt out” and attend by speakerphone, no. You really want those avatars, huh? I think the idea of a GD in live action sounds fun. I would be there as spectator only, naturally.