QED

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

I thought I should give a plug to the upcoming QED event

www.qedcon.org

"An event for a skeptics to pat each other on the back and talk about how clever they are"

I think that is the tag line they are using.
I just noticed that Ciaran O'Keeffe is no longer listed as appearing on the Ghost Hunters Panel for the QED event?

I guess finding a baby sitter is hard these days!

Also worth mentioning and probably the best thing on the QED line up is the "Ghost Investigations Today" panel question and answer session.

I see that they have two BadPsychics forumites on the panel, consisting of the ever excellent Hayley, and the voice of UK Podcastery Mr Trystan Swale!

So if any of you are going I would recommend checking out these two as they are two good eggs in skepticism that need the recognition they so rightly deserve

[Deleted]

Thank you for the kind comments, Jon.

However, I don't think it's going to be a case of people patting one another on the back. There is certainly going to be a lot happening to allow people to become more actively skeptical. For example there is a 'reaching out rationally' panel, a workshop for 'skeptics in the pub' groups, as well as the Nightingale project panel.

Certainly useful things to sit in on.

[Deleted]

Oh, and I should add, I prefer just the three people on the ghost panel, if you know what I mean.

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Who is on the ghost panel then other than you and Trystan?

I heard Ciarans bogus excuse about the lack of babysitter (public reason), i also heard the real reason (As he told a few people privately), and I also know the REAL real reason he is not going! lol

I do think there will be a lot of self Flagellation in a non sadomasochistic manner, but I do have a lot of personal opinions of the way skepticism is going right now. However I like the fact normal and real people like you and Trystan are taking part, gives some credibility to the event for sure.

[fluffet]

I heard Ciarans bogus excuse about the lack of babysitter (public reason), i also heard the real reason (As he told a few people privately), and I also know the REAL real reason he is not going! lol

Which is ?

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Fluffet I removed that from my post and you quoting me! lol

I cant reveal the reason I was told as I was asked to keep it quiet.

Although I think that reason is also bogus to be honest.

I wonder if me telling a certain Richard Wiseman that I would be turning up with a journalist to expose Ciaran face to face regarding racism cover ups, blackmail attempts and other hacking related issues perhaps helped him change his mind.

[fluffet]

Didn't see your post pre edit sorry Jon...or me quoting you in it...bit lost to there to be honest.

Anyhoo was only asking since you mentioned it wasn't sure what it was suggesting was the reason since I didn't know you had been considering going with a journo.

[Ma'amJo]

Loads of my friends are there, I feel really left out. I just didn't have the money to go.

[fluffet]

I'm much the same Missjo...I just can't afford to travel to these events nor pay any other costs for that matter for entry or the like. I understand the need for them to charge for such events and workshops etc as the costs can be huge in running these type of things.

[Ma'amJo]

I know, me too. I wouldn't mind but as a member of MSS I had the option of getting a half-price ticket for a limited length of time, but couldn't even afford that. Plus add to that the cost of accommodation, travel, food etc and it was just too much.

I'll have to stick to the monthly events, which are at least free. Then it's only my busfare and a couple of quid thrown in a pint glass (optional) to worry about.

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

This is one of my problems with events like this, i know they cost money to put on, but it only ends up alienating the very people who would get the most out of such events due to the price.

Some of the speakers at QED are very very wealthy people. It is a shame that such people couldn't get together themselves and put on such an event out of their own pocket.
But then to do so would mean they were truly altruistic and not just interested in plugging their books and so on.

[mrjohnno]

Feb 6, 2011 0:12:25 GMT Mr. Jon Donnis said:

This is one of my problems with events like this, i know they cost money to put on, but it only ends up alienating the very people who would get the most out of such events due to the price.

Some of the speakers at QED are very very wealthy people. It is a shame that such people couldn't get together themselves and put on such an event out of their own pocket.
But then to do so would mean they were truly altruistic and not just interested in plugging their books and so on.

I'm not going to expand much but I shared my bed with a friend of a friend last night. She (and her friend) insisted on cooking me dinner tonight which I had to accept because of the culture here.

In the UK I would refuse the dinner because it would devalue my offer of a bed for the night.

Strange world we live in.

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Threesome alert!! lol
You forgot to add the [barbdonotread] tags lol

[mrjohnno]

Feb 7, 2011 22:27:18 GMT Mr. Jon Donnis said:

Threesome alert!! lol
You forgot to add the [barbdonotread] tags lol

Friend of a friend. so there were only two of us. It's peak season here so getting a room for the night (it actually ended up two nights) is quite hard unless you go to one of the high end resorts which would cost a bomb. Not a local girl, came here to see her Italian boyfriend but they split up...

[barbdonotread]

split up because she objected to the level his S & M was reaching. He threw her bags out the door at 11PM.

[/barbdonotread]

Her options were limited to say the least so I took her in for a couple of nights. Cost me nothing and I'm up most of the night anyway. These acts of kindness don't go un-noticed either, gossip city here mate.

[paddyrex]

Feb 5, 2011 23:10:34 GMT Ma'amJo said:

I know, me too. I wouldn't mind but as a member of MSS I had the option of getting a half-price ticket for a limited length of time, but couldn't even afford that. Plus add to that the cost of accommodation, travel, food etc and it was just too much.

I'll have to stick to the monthly events, which are at least free. Then it's only my busfare and a couple of quid thrown in a pint glass (optional) to worry about.

Wow! MSS members were offered half price tickets! That's something I never knew about. I ended up helping at the event and came away with a t-shirt. I wonder if I should join MSS if they do another?

[Ma'amJo]

Maybe you won't have to now you're QED royalty.

[paddyrex]

Royalty? Haha. I was just another face in the crowd, or are you suggesting that I am part of some inbred clan whose ancestors were able to bully themselves into a position of authority?

[Ma'amJo]

Ha ha, no, I wasn't suggesting that for a minute. That's a brilliant description of our monarchy, by the way.

[Amaris]

Nice review, although very belated.

www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_little_qedcon_that_canquestion_explore_discover_in_manchester