To all members that attended the Shermer chat:
Soon I'll be posting the transcript of the Shermer chat on our Chat Transcript page, but first I'd like to open the floor for a civil discussion about that chat and all future author chats. To begin with, I'm extremely disappointed and humiliated as to how the night unfolded. All I can do is apologize and try to figure out ways to see that this doesn't happen again.
I thought all night and morning about what to say to members about the failure of last nights chat session. Certainly, I could just put the transcript up and act like everything went as planned, but those of you that have been a part of past author chats know that last night was a complete nightmare. Those that are new are left assuming we always have such chaos. So providing a follow-up post, such as this one, seems essential.
For whatever reason Dr. Shermer wasn't really present in that chat session - not mentally, or even physically. Yes, I'm happy he followed through and spent some time with us, but overall it was a rather disappointing experience. People were asking questions and making comments and Dr. Shermer obviously wasn't even reading or following the discussion, let alone responding. After a prolonged silence from Dr. Shermer, he returned to the discussion and informed us he completely left his computer to have dinner. After which, he was then preoccupied watching the Lakers game.
To an uninvolved bystander that doesn't care about BookTalk or what we do here, this situation might come across as humorous and rather entertaining. I meana guest eating dinner during an appearance? But to me, and those that respect and care about the authors/books we read, the topics we discuss, and the future of BookTalk, this chat was a complete disaster and showed that we weren't taken seriously. I'm embarrassed that I invited friends from various chat rooms and communities and this ends up being their one and only impression of BookTalk. So I'm humiliated and I'm apologizing to you for this failure.
One person in the chat room last night sent me a private message suggesting that I take control of the chat session and ask the questions directly to Shermer. Another suggested that we back off and not throw too much at the man as he is but one person and cannot possibly keep up with so much activity. While I respect their opinions and welcome suggestions, their suggestions couldn't be implemented at such a late stage. We were already into the chat and changing format during a chat is impossible. How could I ask questions directly to Shermer without having the questions in my possession already?
More than that, you have to consider that Shermer wasn't overwhelmed. He was eating dinner away from his computer. He was talking with his child and watching the Lakers game. So giving him some more space wasn't what was needed. He created his own space by not even being at his computer. Besides, I always ask guests when scheduling these chats if they are good typists, or if there is a chance they might get overwhelmed if the chat isn't moderated. Dr. Shermer informed me he types for a living and won't have a problem.
As far as having a list of questions prepared before an author chat I just don't like this idea. Very few BookTalk members have seemed to want this type of rigid structure. First of all, an author chat of this nature is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most members to chat on a personal level with these authors and scientists. By me having a list of questions prepared ahead of time, and conducting this like an interview, I would essentially be robbing our members of the opportunity to interact openly. So I respect that suggestion, but it flies in the face of what we are all about. Read some of the past chat transcripts. Members and authors chatted freely, had fun, and everyone felt like it was a rewarding experience. Again, Shermer wasn't even at his computer, so please don't consider last night as an example of why we need to become more rigid or structured with author chats. We can all read interviews, articles and transcripts of Q & A sessions anywhere on the web. Where else can you talk casually with authors? I want you guys to enjoy interacting with these authors as much as possible, so me taking control away doesn't seem fair. We didn't need that type of moderation in the past and I don't want to start it now.
In closureI'm sorry. I'm sorry to those that set the time aside to attend this chat and then had such a disappointing experience. Please feel free to comment in this thread and offer suggestions. Right now my plan is to be sure to have a more in-depth discussion with future guests about what we're expecting - one hour of undivided attention.
Chris"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them"-- Mark Twain
Soon I'll be posting the transcript of the Shermer chat on our Chat Transcript page, but first I'd like to open the floor for a civil discussion about that chat and all future author chats. To begin with, I'm extremely disappointed and humiliated as to how the night unfolded. All I can do is apologize and try to figure out ways to see that this doesn't happen again.
I thought all night and morning about what to say to members about the failure of last nights chat session. Certainly, I could just put the transcript up and act like everything went as planned, but those of you that have been a part of past author chats know that last night was a complete nightmare. Those that are new are left assuming we always have such chaos. So providing a follow-up post, such as this one, seems essential.
For whatever reason Dr. Shermer wasn't really present in that chat session - not mentally, or even physically. Yes, I'm happy he followed through and spent some time with us, but overall it was a rather disappointing experience. People were asking questions and making comments and Dr. Shermer obviously wasn't even reading or following the discussion, let alone responding. After a prolonged silence from Dr. Shermer, he returned to the discussion and informed us he completely left his computer to have dinner. After which, he was then preoccupied watching the Lakers game.
To an uninvolved bystander that doesn't care about BookTalk or what we do here, this situation might come across as humorous and rather entertaining. I meana guest eating dinner during an appearance? But to me, and those that respect and care about the authors/books we read, the topics we discuss, and the future of BookTalk, this chat was a complete disaster and showed that we weren't taken seriously. I'm embarrassed that I invited friends from various chat rooms and communities and this ends up being their one and only impression of BookTalk. So I'm humiliated and I'm apologizing to you for this failure.
One person in the chat room last night sent me a private message suggesting that I take control of the chat session and ask the questions directly to Shermer. Another suggested that we back off and not throw too much at the man as he is but one person and cannot possibly keep up with so much activity. While I respect their opinions and welcome suggestions, their suggestions couldn't be implemented at such a late stage. We were already into the chat and changing format during a chat is impossible. How could I ask questions directly to Shermer without having the questions in my possession already?
More than that, you have to consider that Shermer wasn't overwhelmed. He was eating dinner away from his computer. He was talking with his child and watching the Lakers game. So giving him some more space wasn't what was needed. He created his own space by not even being at his computer. Besides, I always ask guests when scheduling these chats if they are good typists, or if there is a chance they might get overwhelmed if the chat isn't moderated. Dr. Shermer informed me he types for a living and won't have a problem.
As far as having a list of questions prepared before an author chat I just don't like this idea. Very few BookTalk members have seemed to want this type of rigid structure. First of all, an author chat of this nature is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most members to chat on a personal level with these authors and scientists. By me having a list of questions prepared ahead of time, and conducting this like an interview, I would essentially be robbing our members of the opportunity to interact openly. So I respect that suggestion, but it flies in the face of what we are all about. Read some of the past chat transcripts. Members and authors chatted freely, had fun, and everyone felt like it was a rewarding experience. Again, Shermer wasn't even at his computer, so please don't consider last night as an example of why we need to become more rigid or structured with author chats. We can all read interviews, articles and transcripts of Q & A sessions anywhere on the web. Where else can you talk casually with authors? I want you guys to enjoy interacting with these authors as much as possible, so me taking control away doesn't seem fair. We didn't need that type of moderation in the past and I don't want to start it now.
In closureI'm sorry. I'm sorry to those that set the time aside to attend this chat and then had such a disappointing experience. Please feel free to comment in this thread and offer suggestions. Right now my plan is to be sure to have a more in-depth discussion with future guests about what we're expecting - one hour of undivided attention.
Chris
thingys, had a great time, and went away looking forward to Michael's (we're on a first name basis now) next book.
