Okay, so, I have a lot of good things that I can say about SBL so far this year. Firstly, I've gotten some great deals on books; I always like that! Secondly, I've seen and will soon personally meet, some of the scholars I most admire. Thirdly, I've had some great conversations with other conference goers and even some people who just live in San Diego and are interested in what's going on at the convention center. However, there are some things that have been letdowns.
For one, it is such a letdown when you see a great paper title but when you go in to hear the lecture, you realize that the title was merely a dreamer's title and that it had nothing to do with the content of the paper. Another thing that has been a letdown is when you attend a lecture of some big-named scholar, he or she is as dry as the Nevada desert I crossed over on my flight here. Still another letdown (and for me, this was such a big letdown!!!) is to see the scholars you admire acting like jerks. Not sharing names, I saw two scholars today who have been at the top of my favorites list for a while now and they were being real jerks to another guy, a guy they didn't even know. I was there when the two scholars approached the man and I was there when they left; the guy was overwhelmed by them and the things they were saying. This was not in a lecture setting and so, I was shocked at the vigor with which they approached this guy; I couldn't believe it. Needless to say, I lost a ton of respect for these persons because they definitely were not living out what they wrote so much about.
Despite the letdowns, though (I'm sure there will be more), I really am having a great time. There's much more to look forward to. I'll post some more stuff this evening, so, check back in with Pisteuomen when you can.
For one, it is such a letdown when you see a great paper title but when you go in to hear the lecture, you realize that the title was merely a dreamer's title and that it had nothing to do with the content of the paper. Another thing that has been a letdown is when you attend a lecture of some big-named scholar, he or she is as dry as the Nevada desert I crossed over on my flight here. Still another letdown (and for me, this was such a big letdown!!!) is to see the scholars you admire acting like jerks. Not sharing names, I saw two scholars today who have been at the top of my favorites list for a while now and they were being real jerks to another guy, a guy they didn't even know. I was there when the two scholars approached the man and I was there when they left; the guy was overwhelmed by them and the things they were saying. This was not in a lecture setting and so, I was shocked at the vigor with which they approached this guy; I couldn't believe it. Needless to say, I lost a ton of respect for these persons because they definitely were not living out what they wrote so much about.
Despite the letdowns, though (I'm sure there will be more), I really am having a great time. There's much more to look forward to. I'll post some more stuff this evening, so, check back in with Pisteuomen when you can.
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