Now, I’ve been accused of being a die-hard, right wing nut. I also have been accused of being liberal, but not liberal enough. Some people have also called me ultra-liberal. I really describe myself as a moderate. But this conversation is not about politics. It’s about the criticisms we all receive, especially in social media.
When giving presentations to a given group of people we sometimes create boundaries to our content in order to keep the audience in their seats. Sometimes you don’t want to offend everyone there. I really hadn’t thought about that until yesterday when I read a negative blog post about my presentation. I didn’t even know that I was doing it.
I know that there is a threshold for LGBT acceptance in Pittsburgh. Trust me, it is a lot better than in the rural areas of Pennsylvania, but certainly unlike the New York metro area. My subconscious told me to not take the gay issue too far in my examples. I also wanted to branch out and give a variety of issues of diversity. A lot of people agreed, one did not.
Accepting criticism is one of the hardest things we have to do in life. Sometimes it goes better than others. One thing about the presentation I will tell you is that it was lively and energetic. I used all of my energy in giving the presentation and my diligence, organization, and time paid off.
Tags: acceptance · glbt · lgbt · PCPGH3 · Pittsburgh · podcamp2 Comments
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I have a suspicion that this might be related to my comments about your session, or that someone had similar comments to the ones I made on my blog.
“When giving presentations to a given group of people we sometimes create boundaries to our content in order to keep the audience in their seats.”
I think this is where you and I may disagree on how a presentation about diversity should be run. I think the moment you temper a presentation on diversity and activism, you’re no longer doing justice to the idea of activisim, and tiptoeing around GLBTQ rights (I include Q because I’m in the Q category and hate the dichotomous attitude about sexuality that comes from both ends of the sexual identity spectrum - we’re not all gay or straight) in any forum is something I would never do.
If GLBTQ issues are your #1 concern in terms of activism, then be out and open about it and use it as a personal example throughout the presentation without tempering it to appease anyone (in my opinion). My #1 issue is abortion and there is NO venue in which I would ever temper my feelings on that issue, because that’s part of what being a true activist for that cause is about (again, in my opinion).
I would apologize for being critical in my blogging, but I think it’s important that you know when a session didn’t provide what the attendees expected, and I was not the only attendee who really felt that the presentation lacked any real energy or passion, and I personally think it’s because you worried about offending us with your sexuality. If you appear outwardly apologetic about your own cause, you lose quite a bit of authenticity when giving other people advice about activism. When I walked in, I was revved up for someone who was going to tell bloggers to be honest and open and challenging with their exposure of important causes, and tell us how to deal with the backlash in concrete ways, and if you present again, that’s what I would’ve liked to see… more outward passion about something you’re passionate about.
Good luck to you in future endeavors.
Oh Brandice, how correct you are! I read your comments right before the end of the day at PodCamp (thanks to Google alerts) and was pissed. I can see where you are coming from now… and accept it, but don’t wholly agree. I wasn’t at all trying to constrain myself… consciously. Maybe I was trying to shake off the “all gay, all the time” attitude that people think I have. I don’t know. I just wanted to give alternate examples that non LGBTIQQ people could relate to. If the presentation had specifically been about, for instance, how I’ve changed my own attitudes towards gay marriage through my own advocacy of equal rights, then a more queer oriented presentation would have been warranted. Call me stodgy, but I was taught that there’s a time and place for everything. Hell, it’s something for being accepted as a gay sponsor at a PGH event that’s not “GAY.” If we want balls-to-the-wall, here: http://www.jasoncable.com/2008/10/15/one-reason/ . If we want to foster conversations about new media and at least GET PEOPLE THINKING (the point of my presentation), here: http://www.jasoncable.com/podcasts/com.jasoncable.podcast0152.mp3 . Hugs & kisses! Truce called.