Philadelphia

5 Responses

1. El Guapo says:

   2011-02-25 at 01:47

   I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what we have to offer here, and I'm not talking about cheesesteaks.

   Reply
2. Gotti Rules says:

   2011-02-25 at 14:29

   Pete,

   Philly is only about hour an a half drive away from baltimore. Why don't you come a down and get a crab cake you have been talking about??

   Reply
3. Anonymous says:

   2011-02-25 at 21:58

   Center City is beautiful. Just stay away from North Phili.

   Reply
4. Anonymous says:

   2011-02-26 at 07:08

   What do academics really do at these conferences? Are they really worth it?

   Reply
5. PCM says:

   2011-02-26 at 23:18

   Sometimes.

   [And see next post for some thoughts I Philly… I had a good time.]

   I'm not a big conference goer. I tend to stay away from the larger conferences (ASA, for instance). I feel lost in those. This conference (Eastern Sociology Society) I've always liked. It's smaller, never more than a train-ride away, and has a "mini-conference on ethnography." It is a good place to see people you like, personally and professionally, but rarely see any where else.

   What I hate is a bunch of grad students reading about their latest statistical regression.

   In truth, honestly, I rarely find other people's sessions interesting. Mostly it's four people talking about four different things without any connection. That's a shame.

   But conferences can also be a good way to give yourself a deadline on some paper idea. This time I was presenting on a paper that will be published that came out of meeting people at last year's conference, when the "paper" was just an idea with a few powerpoint slides. So in that sense, it can be true professional development.

   Reply