FuturConSF
Sep. 19th, 2020 03:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lydamorehouseI'm currently attending FutureConSF.
This is the con seemed to spring up right after I complained about how strangely un-international WorldCON felt to me. Obviously, FutureConSF was already in the works, but it was like an answer to everything I'd been wanting. Of course, gave them money and signed up IMMEDIATELY after hearing about it.
I have been to:
And I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's panels:
These are just some of the panels you can listen to, as well. If you're curious about the entire schedule, it's here: https://www.futureconsf.com/schedule
The bonus about how this convention is structures is that if you're looking at the titles of these and thinking, "Damn, I wish I could have gone to XXXX." You STILL CAN. They are all available, free, on YouTube. In fact, just now, when I was making dinner I decided to catch up on the "Solarpunk" panel and it was great. I mean, you can't join in the chats about these panels once their posted or get questions asked, but you don't have to miss the content?
Also I was talking toquadong (but don't tell him, since it's still coming in the mail) about the ways in which I've found to enjoy virtual experiences. One of them is to find real time/real life friends willing to "go to panels" with me. Keep in mind, I'm extroverted so cons for me were often about hanging out with and meeting people. So, like, this morning, I got up at 6:30 am so that I could connect via video chat with jiawen and we could watch the "Future East Asia..." panel together. Then, later I was telling a friend in Canada about this con and so she jumped on and watched "Future South America..." with me while we WhatsApp texted back and forth about what we were watching. I mean, it's NOT the same as wandering the halls. Likewise, I realize that panelling is not even always what people sign up for cons FOR, but for me, someone who, in fact, did love the panels best, it's pretty close.
I think the problem is the effort involved to some extent. I was really pleased thatjiawen reached out to ME last night about this morning's panel so we could arrange something. I roped my Canadian friend in, but it was spontaneous... and lucky that she was interested.
"Seeing" other people really does help me consider a virtual con a success.
I am sad that I missed the virtual hangout that the con had organized, a kaffeeklatch, but it looks like they're doing one Sunday, too, so hopefully I can drop by, because cons for me used to be a combination of meeting old friends, panels, and meeting new friends. A zoom with strangers is often the antidote for that last one.
As an aside, I love zooming with strangers. This is very weird and I recognize that anything I'm saying about this should not constitute "advice" because asquadong reminded me, zoom is also work for a lot of people? It is for me, but in a totally different way... and I seem to be one of the rare individuals out there that actually really feels a certain amount of connection via video chat? I don't find it particularly more or less awkward than in-person communication. Talking to people I don't know is something I really enjoy in-person and so doing it on-line is not all much different.
But, this is one of the few upsides to being an extrovert during the pandemic? I'm used to instigating conversation anyway? So, uh, life finds a way.... as it were, only in my case, conversation finds a way.
I think, too, that one of the things that makes me happiest about virtual cons is the fact that so many of them are insanely affordable. If you don't want to (or can't afford to) contribute to FutureSFCon, you don't have to. It's all out there, for free. Also, this one, in particular, makes me feel like I'm traveling. Listening to people LITERALLY all over the world is AMAZING to me.
It's possible I'm just easily amused.
This is the con seemed to spring up right after I complained about how strangely un-international WorldCON felt to me. Obviously, FutureConSF was already in the works, but it was like an answer to everything I'd been wanting. Of course, gave them money and signed up IMMEDIATELY after hearing about it.
I have been to:
- Future South & East Asia: What Future is Taking Shape in India, Pakistan, Philippines?
- Science Fiction in Translation: A Hidden Treasure to Innovate the Genre
- Solarpunk: New Seeds from the Ashes of Cyberpunk
- Future East Asia: Techno-traditions in Japan and Korea
- Future South America: The Melting Pot of Creativity in Brazil
And I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's panels:
- Future China: The Rising Phenomenon of Chinese SF
- Future Africa: Visions from Nigeria and Uganda
These are just some of the panels you can listen to, as well. If you're curious about the entire schedule, it's here: https://www.futureconsf.com/schedule
The bonus about how this convention is structures is that if you're looking at the titles of these and thinking, "Damn, I wish I could have gone to XXXX." You STILL CAN. They are all available, free, on YouTube. In fact, just now, when I was making dinner I decided to catch up on the "Solarpunk" panel and it was great. I mean, you can't join in the chats about these panels once their posted or get questions asked, but you don't have to miss the content?
Also I was talking to
quadong (but don't tell him, since it's still coming in the mail) about the ways in which I've found to enjoy virtual experiences. One of them is to find real time/real life friends willing to "go to panels" with me. Keep in mind, I'm extroverted so cons for me were often about hanging out with and meeting people. So, like, this morning, I got up at 6:30 am so that I could connect via video chat with jiawen and we could watch the "Future East Asia..." panel together. Then, later I was telling a friend in Canada about this con and so she jumped on and watched "Future South America..." with me while we WhatsApp texted back and forth about what we were watching. I mean, it's NOT the same as wandering the halls. Likewise, I realize that panelling is not even always what people sign up for cons FOR, but for me, someone who, in fact, did love the panels best, it's pretty close. I think the problem is the effort involved to some extent. I was really pleased that
jiawen reached out to ME last night about this morning's panel so we could arrange something. I roped my Canadian friend in, but it was spontaneous... and lucky that she was interested. "Seeing" other people really does help me consider a virtual con a success.
I am sad that I missed the virtual hangout that the con had organized, a kaffeeklatch, but it looks like they're doing one Sunday, too, so hopefully I can drop by, because cons for me used to be a combination of meeting old friends, panels, and meeting new friends. A zoom with strangers is often the antidote for that last one.
As an aside, I love zooming with strangers. This is very weird and I recognize that anything I'm saying about this should not constitute "advice" because as
quadong reminded me, zoom is also work for a lot of people? It is for me, but in a totally different way... and I seem to be one of the rare individuals out there that actually really feels a certain amount of connection via video chat? I don't find it particularly more or less awkward than in-person communication. Talking to people I don't know is something I really enjoy in-person and so doing it on-line is not all much different. But, this is one of the few upsides to being an extrovert during the pandemic? I'm used to instigating conversation anyway? So, uh, life finds a way.... as it were, only in my case, conversation finds a way.
I think, too, that one of the things that makes me happiest about virtual cons is the fact that so many of them are insanely affordable. If you don't want to (or can't afford to) contribute to FutureSFCon, you don't have to. It's all out there, for free. Also, this one, in particular, makes me feel like I'm traveling. Listening to people LITERALLY all over the world is AMAZING to me.
It's possible I'm just easily amused.