Back Channel = Blogosphere
A great deal of interesting debate has arisen over the controversial 'official back channel' for Les Blogs. It seems to divide the delegates a bit between the: IRC=rude and uncivil (2) (3) and IRC=disruptive and transparent.
I am on the IRC as a disruptive tool that adds rich and transparent layering to the social networking effect of the conference. It has been the ultimate connector amongst many of us, even moreso than the social networking events in the evenings...or...maybe enhancing those spaces since there is no real 'ice' to break.
For those of you who aren't here, let me explain:
The 'back channel' or IRC (I dunno either) is a chat room of sorts that is specifically delegated to the Les Blogs attendees and those who want to 'peek in' to the action. It is running constantly throughout the sessions and is often projected on the large screens behind the speakers/panelists. There has been some silliness, much heckling and even more raw questions and comments in these chats. For those who don't feel comfortable standing up and asking a single question or making a statement into the microphone, it gives them the opportunity to have a voice. Sound familiar?
Well, here is what I think about the IRC:
#1. Like I said above, the IRC is an amazing networking tool. We come to conferences to learn stuff, sure, but first and foremost for many of us, we come to connect. Speakers and panels kill networking time. Kill it. And really, since the advent of the internet, many of us would sit in our seats with our laptops pointing towards our email or Skype or the like, where we would be socializing with people back home rather than the very people we came here to connect with.
#2. Okay, so we do want to learn, but hell, the material isn't always groundbreaking or earth shattering, is it? Well, the same goes here. But who cares? We have the back channel being projected behind the speakers, giving us an extra layer of knowledge to ingest. We often laugh, but there is a great deal of truth in those irreverent statements.
#3. I see the IRC to panelists as a metaphor for the blogosphere to traditional media. It's an opportunity for 'we the media' to hijack the conversation, shake it up...yes...we tend to go over the top, but, hell, that's what brings balance to our world. We are here as media disrupters, celebrating that and embracing where we go from here. Seriously, this seems pretty straight forward.
Oh...and you should definitely witness the smackdown between the two sides, including the very disruptive and fabulous Ben Metcalfe.
technorati tags: lesblogs, lesblogs2, lesblogs2.0, irc, backchannel
7 Comments:
This is where moderation becomes key. When IRC is moderated, then the moderator can interact with the speaker if the audience is apparently confused or not interested. That is indeed the best way to be both disruptive and civil. And I dare say that Loïc, the moderator in chief, is so hung up on being disruptive that he sometimes forgets to be civil. Not the first time...
IRC is Internet Relay Chat - an early instant message tool. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat Since it seems to let people easily set up a virtual room for people to enter and leave at will it seems to have lasted longer than some other early Internet tools.
Moderated IRC?
What is that, Web 0.5 with corporate supervision?
A projected backchannel is an appropriated backchannel. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a back-of-the-backchannel set up (and if there wasn't, there should have been): one where the conversation isn't on public display. Backchannelling in its purest form ought to be clandestine; having seen it at work at other conferences, it's a way to double-check your gut with everyone around you.
Thank you for posting the link to the video... It helps to see the dynamics of the event. I avoid conferences because they tend to be a big waste of time. I like to listen to audio recordings of the conference sessions while I drive.
I think Ben's comportment "under fire" as it were was excellent. It the conference elects to run an IRC and put the text on display then the speakers need to have very thick skins indeed... and Mena was rude to drag the guy forward because he wasn't happy with all the speakers. It's insane to think that a conference attendee can end up being the most effective communicator at a conference and his time to prep was virtually non existent.
I'm not a lawyer but if I was Mena's lawyer I'd tell her to chill before attacking the audience. I thought Dave Winer was the only CEO capable of such poor judgement.
@medtracy:
"I am not a lawyer . . ."
I'm curious to know what you think Mena did that would be actionable? Is causing a nitwit some degee of public embarassment a tort now?
"Moderated IRC?
What is that, Web 0.5 with corporate supervision?"
oooh, how revolutionary of you! IRC between conference goers on their laptops is one thing, projecting IRC discussions behind a presenter is plain old fucking rude.
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