In a few days many of us will be gathering in and around Chicago for Yearlykos 2007. We will meet and greet some old friends, some we have never met before, some we know only electronically. And those of us who are highly visible - here, at the convention, or in politics - will have especial attention devoted to us. I do not presume to speak for anyone else, merely for myself. But before we meet, I think it might helpful if I explain a few things. So perhaps you will do me the kindness of continuing to read below the fold, in the faint chance that I might have something of value to offer? Thanks.
First, at age 61 my memory is not what it used to be. I may not remember that scintillating comment you appended to my diary some day back in March. I do read all comments on my diaries, but I certainly do not remember them all.
I am also shy, so if it seems as if I am not totally effusive when you greet me it may be nothing about you - or about me - that is wrong, merely my shyness.
I have a lot of responsibilities during Yearlykos, so I may also be somewhat distracted. I am leading two sessions, participating as a discussant in a third, and have some backup responsibilities for a fourth. There are also other sessions I do want to attend, and some people to whom I have committed that we will talk, or even have a meal together. Thus if I do not have unlimited time for the discussion you wish to have at the moment you encounter me, there may be a good reason for what you presume is impatience directed towards you. It is not.
Despite the fact that I am most known for writing about education (I do choose to post as teacherken), there are two other things to remember. First, I do not claim to know all there is about education, even about secondary education. That is one reason I have invited others to be on the panels for which I bear responsibility. The other is that I care about things beyond education. This last point seems to come up each year when people are bruiting about names for FrontPagers, that people will say that teacherken only writes/knows about education. Forget about FrontPage status, which won't happen - just look at my diaries, which cover political candidates, economics, torture, the Constitution, depression, separation of church and state, impeachment, treatment of our military, and many other topics. One reason I might seem to be in a hurry in Chicago is that I am trying to get to a session on a topic in which I have a passionate interest other than education.
My feelings won’t be hurt if you don’t applaud when you hear my name, or swoon when you meet me. Save that for the real stars. Similarly, do not expect me to swoon or applaud because of the elected position you may hold, or the wonderful writing you do at Dailykos - although I will make an exception for Meteor Blades if he shows. There are many at Dailykos whose work I greatly admire, and I have no hesitation in acknowledging them.
My participation at Yearlykos, and for that matter at Dailykos, is not a matter of ego, even though as an insecure person I am rarely sure that what I write, say or do is of value - that determination normally has to be made by others - and so my reactions may be misinterpreted. I am often surprised that people value some of what I write. There are things I KNOW are good, but these are few and far between. I do appreciate the nice comments, but I an socially awkward and do not always respond appropriately. I have demonstrated that more than once in my comments recently, as I did on a diary by NYBri about the netroots candidate party. Sorry.
And please do not misinterpret this diary either. I really look forward to meeting as many of the attendees as possible, whether you hold high elective office or are merely a lurker. Last year I encountered a lurker whom I had known several decades before in college, and not seen since. I made time to have lunch and catch up. One reason I am coming in on Wednesday morning and not leaving until Sunday afternoon is to have more time to simply be with people, to get to know a few more, to reconnect with friends, and to learn from what others have to offer.
I hope to have a wonderful time, to learn, to meet, to enjoy. I wish the same to you. And I hope that my shyness and social awkwardness not be an occasion of discomfort to you.
Peace.