How Do You Describe TAM? [Archive]

Chris H

22nd July 2010, 02:19 AM

It's something that's come up a lot for me in the last few months, particularly as I had to head to the other side of the world to attend TAM 8. How do you guys describe TAM to people who aren't attending?

El_Spectre

22nd July 2010, 02:40 AM

I generally just call it a "Pro Science / Pro Education conference".

Rasmus

22nd July 2010, 03:00 AM

I haven't been to a TAM and am unlikely to be able to afford it in the foreseeable future.

But from what I've read here ion the forum, my description would likely contain terms like "holy grail", pilgrimage and passing references to milk and honey.

Me? Jealous?

I've been to the conference in London which was, I think, called "An Evening with James Randi and Friends". (And I tire not of pointing out that Randi called me a "fine sceptic"... well, me and the other 800 people in the room, but it still counts!)

I will assume that TAM is something similar, just bigger and better and longer and - possibly - slightly funner, too. So it held true for pretty much all of my meetings with fellow JEREF'ers:

8paRbBCTS_4

Normal people, finally!

(Yes, I know the reference is in German and nobody will get it, but still ...)

Finally, like minded people. Us sceptics are a rare breed, and being able to socialize has never failed to make me feel at home - and that rarely happens. (Never mind that these people are awesome, all of them!)

Oh, and i think they have speeches and receptions and stuff like that on the side ...

SkepticScott

22nd July 2010, 03:45 AM

I say it's a pro-science conference, focusing on critical thinking and skepticism.

xinit

22nd July 2010, 05:39 AM

I haven't been to a TAM and am unlikely to be able to afford it in the foreseeable future.

But from what I've read here ion the forum, my description would likely contain terms like "holy grail", pilgrimage and passing references to milk and honey.

Mecca might be a better analogy. I know that since I attended TAM8 (my first TAM), I know align myself towards Vegas when I find that I need to think clearly.

The Central Scrutinizer

22nd July 2010, 07:58 AM

I just say it's a science conference.

Rasmus

22nd July 2010, 08:01 AM

Mecca might be a better analogy.

It might be, yes.

I know that since I attended TAM8 (my first TAM), I know align myself towards Vegas when I find that I need to think clearly.

When I do that, I think about poker and begin to drool ...

From what I've read and seen, though, the conference seems kinda nice, the people - both guests and speakers/performers are what makes it great.

AdMan

22nd July 2010, 08:08 AM

Critical thinking and science conference is how I describe it.

Wowbagger

22nd July 2010, 09:28 AM

A conference for science enthusiasts.

Or, if I need something longer:
A conference celebrating science enthusiasm, and critical thinking education; hosted by James "The Amazing" Randi. It features presentations that are both informative and entertaining, by a number of experts in various fields of interest to both science geeks and skeptical freaks.

Dr. Keith

22nd July 2010, 10:06 AM

I like this question because it sort of tip toes around the fact that "skeptic" is not a generally positive term. In fact the term has been hijacked by deniers in so many fields that I don't use it at all.

Science. Critical thinking. Education. Those are all positive terms that can be used without having to worry about misunderstanding or eye rolling.

I have no better word to capture the skeptical movement, but I think it is odd that we can't use the name in public without explanation.

saganite

22nd July 2010, 10:18 AM

Them: So why exactly do you go to Vegas every year?

Me: It's for a convention on critical thinking and science education.

Them: (eyes glazing over) How fun.

Me: Yes, it is! So anyway, they're saying next weekend we should have excellent beach weather. Have you been out to the ocean yet this summer?

Hokulele Mom

22nd July 2010, 10:37 AM

I describe TAM as an annual conference on critical thinking and science education. Since sometimes my school pays for my trip, I have to make it sound like a professional development opportunity. :) I cannot tell people I go Vegas to hang around Hokulele drinking and playing penny slots in the casino.:D

Hokulele Mom

AdMan

22nd July 2010, 10:40 AM

I have no better word to capture the skeptical movement, but I think it is odd that we can't use the name in public without explanation.

I think this is true and a good point.

"Critical thinking" is a more explanatory though clunkier term.

Dicon

22nd July 2010, 10:46 AM

A gathering of grumpy old white male atheists with beards.

Wowbagger

22nd July 2010, 10:49 AM

"Critical thinking" is a more explanatory though clunkier term.The term is also, (as Saganite points out), not exactly "fun" sounding.

That is why "science enthusiasm" is so great: It sounds like a lot of intellectual fun, without being all stuffy nor phoney nor uber-serious. And, that is exactly what TAM is. At least for me.

Wowbagger

22nd July 2010, 10:51 AM

The Central Scrutinizer

22nd July 2010, 11:29 AM

A gathering of grumpy old white male atheists with beards.

"A gathering of computer programmers with glasses, mostly named Dave."

Both descriptions cover me. :)

(I wear glasses for reading, and I have a goatee, which is close to a beard)

bookitty

22nd July 2010, 11:34 AM

Out of context descriptions for TAM that I have used on FB in the last week:

"It's basically 1000+ people who get every single reference in Tim Minchin's "Storm" plus lectures on science and critical thinking."

"Convention of science-minded folk who have chosen critical thinking as their activist cause."

Loon

22nd July 2010, 12:34 PM

"a week-long drunken casino party in the desert with 150 of my closest friends"

Skip_H

22nd July 2010, 01:09 PM

Oh, I stick with the "It is a series of lectures on science and critical thinking." I avoid being specific about anything until I size the person up on the TAM topic.

I have found that if I say skeptic or anything about religion, peoples eyes dart around their head and become concerned. My close christian friend did that and wanted to know why we needed to 'gather'? He was confused why we had to get together to have such discussions. He seems surprised I was not a detached lone wolf, but instead able to gather with 1,300 others.

Just yesterday at lunch, at work, five people began a conversation on how well all their Acupuncture sessions have gone, and the number of friend stories of how well those Acupuncture sessions went. Again, their eyes dart about if one notes scientific studies with control groups find no supporting facts. So, again, everyone was happy until one wants to bring in science to a topic...

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos

22nd July 2010, 02:42 PM

I simply say it's a conference where we excoriate the woos and drink beer.

~~ Paul

Allecher

22nd July 2010, 04:24 PM

Thanks for starting this topic! Back in the spring many of my friends asked what TAM is and I tried to emphasize that I would see the Amazing Randi and Penn and Teller. They were confused that it was some sort of magician's conference. Then I tried to explain that it was scientific skepticism, but they were still confused because I am not a scientist. And what does that have to do with magic, anyway? :)

Now that I have attended, I think it will be a little easier to explain without over emphasizing atheism or the negative type of skepticism.

Wowbagger

22nd July 2010, 06:00 PM

Both descriptions cover me. :)
You are an exceptionally small part of the crowd.

xinit

22nd July 2010, 07:52 PM

I was asked before I went to TAM "So, you don't really want to drink or gamble or go to shows, so why are you going to Vegas?"

I said something about it being a conference involving science.

When I came back and was talking to this guy again, I just said... 'Well, it's something called "The Amazing Meeting"' and was going to proceed in explaining what it was a bit more when he said...

"Oh! TAM! Yeah, I'm a big fan of SGU, and they were just there."

I should have just said TAM in the first place.

saganite

22nd July 2010, 08:01 PM

I have found that if I say skeptic or anything about religion, peoples eyes dart around their head and become concerned. My close christian friend did that and wanted to know why we needed to 'gather'? He was confused why we had to get together to have such discussions. He seems surprised I was not a detached lone wolf, but instead able to gather with 1,300 others.

Put that guy in an environment where he's involuntarily surrounded by atheists 24/7, and I bet it won't take him long to appreciate getting away every once in awhile to meet up with people who share his religious views.

Ditto the acupuncture people, which, bleh, is my ENTIRE LIFE outside of TAM.

xenxabar

22nd July 2010, 09:10 PM

I will usually do a short science and critical thinking response. My big goto is Myth Busters' Adam Savage and then Penn & Teller and if they person(s) are old enough I'll try the Tonight Show and Uri Gellar that leads up to Randi.

dasmiller

22nd July 2010, 09:19 PM

"Oh, I'm taking a few days off to do some work on the house."

ETA: depending on who I'm talking to

zooterkin

23rd July 2010, 12:07 AM

A gathering of grumpy old white male atheists with beards.

"A gathering of computer programmers with glasses, mostly named Dave."

Couldn't be further from the truth. I don't have a beard and I'm not called Dave.

qarnos

23rd July 2010, 03:32 AM

Skeptic circle-jerk? :D

rustypouch

23rd July 2010, 05:45 AM

Nerd conference.

But two years ago I had a girl I worked with at the time ask me if is was TAM after I described it to her. Turns out she read Skepchick. It was awesome...

bumlet5

23rd July 2010, 09:25 AM

"a week-long drunken casino party in the desert with 150 of my closest friends"

Close.

"I'm going to hang out with about 1,200 of my closest geek friends."

I usually get :confused: or :scarper:

Malfeitor

23rd July 2010, 01:34 PM

No matter how I describe it I still get puzzled looks. Then I have wheel out the fact that Adam Savage, Penn and Teller are regular attendees.

Malfeitor

23rd July 2010, 01:40 PM

Nerd conference.

But two years ago I had a girl I worked with at the time ask me if is was TAM after I described it to her. Turns out she read Skepchick. It was awesome...

I had a similar thing happen this year. I was trying to describe TAM to a group of friends after I got back. The one girl perked up and said "I read eSkeptic". I told her about Skepchick and you should have seen the smile on her face. It was great to find another skeptic hiding under my nose.

Allecher

23rd July 2010, 03:04 PM

We have got to get to work on creating a secret handshake!

Wowbagger

23rd July 2010, 05:29 PM

"It's like stepping into a pile of smart."

Dicon

23rd July 2010, 06:16 PM

A gathering of grumpy old white male atheists with beards.

That only accounts for a very small portion of the crowd. You'd be slightly more accurate if you said "A gathering of computer programmers with glasses, mostly named Dave."

But the question isn't "What is an accurate description of TAM," it's "How do you describe TAM." And that's how I describe it... sometimes.

Dicon

23rd July 2010, 06:17 PM

We have got to get to work on creating a secret handshake!

We have one. All the cool people know it.

xinit

23rd July 2010, 06:50 PM

Skeptic circle-jerk? :D

That cost extra.

HawaiiBigSis

23rd July 2010, 08:09 PM

I describe TAM as an annual conference on critical thinking and science education.
I think this series of words burbled out of my mouth when a pit boss at the blackjack tables asked me this.

And somewhat more coherently when my friends and family members asked me the same question.

I do avoid the "skeptic" designation as much as possible, just because -- as has been observed -- it's been highjacked for more negative uses.

That only accounts for a very small portion of the crowd. You'd be slightly more accurate if you said "A gathering of computer programmers with glasses, mostly named Dave."
...or Steve. I met A LOT of Steves. More than Daves, I think.

And I did use this as well: "A gathering of computer geeks mostly named Dave or Steve".

Hokulele

23rd July 2010, 08:15 PM

Nope, they are all Daves.

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=143167

HawaiiBigSis

23rd July 2010, 08:22 PM

Hokulele

23rd July 2010, 08:25 PM

Which just goes to show that the Steves don't self-identify.

Hmmmm... I wonder if I could get a list of TAM registrants in order to conduct a semi-scientific survey...

I ran into more Matts at TAM than Steves, but that just may be evidence that Steves don't hang around in bars very much.

Horatius

24th July 2010, 06:40 AM

Nope, they are all Daves.

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=143167

Which just goes to show that the Steves don't self-identify.

Hmmmm... I wonder if I could get a list of TAM registrants in order to conduct a semi-scientific survey...

The worst part is, I'll also respond to "Steve", as that's my brother's name, and of course my mother would get us mixed up....

bumlet5

29th July 2010, 10:16 AM

I wonder if SkepticScott could straighten us out on the Daves vs Steves vs Matts...

The Central Scrutinizer

29th July 2010, 12:31 PM

I wonder if SkepticScott could straighten us out on the Daves vs Steves vs Matts...

The Daves walk all over the Matts.

bumlet5

30th July 2010, 07:33 AM

The Daves walk all over the Matts.

New Rock Paper Scissors game for TAM 9? I think so!

A friendly game of Dave Steve Matt anyone?

dustyloft

30th July 2010, 04:44 PM

A gathering of grumpy old white male atheists with beards.
That's me. In that case I should feel right at home at TAM London.

Hamradioguy

31st July 2010, 06:48 PM

"Woodstock for Science Geeks" (For those of a certain age....)

HawaiiBigSis

31st July 2010, 08:50 PM

"Woodstock for Science Geeks" (For those of a certain age....)

With indoor plumbing! :D

bumlet5

31st July 2010, 09:41 PM

With indoor plumbing! :D

That goes without saying. Anything involving geeks is typically going to have a lot of caffeine and electronics, and avoid direct sunlight.

HawaiiBigSis

1st August 2010, 11:27 AM

That goes without saying. Anything involving geeks is typically going to have a lot of caffeine and electronics, and avoid direct sunlight.
Making Vegas the perfect venue!

And indoor plumbing was the item most notably lacking to make Woodstock a go-to affair for me...

SkepticScott

1st August 2010, 08:14 PM

I wonder if SkepticScott could straighten us out on the Daves vs Steves vs Matts...Unfortunately I can't. There was a master list of registrants, but I didn't keep my copy. It would be fun to see a breakdown by first name though.