[Inpycon] Development Sprints

[Rejy M Cyriac]

On 10/15/2014 06:02 PM, Haris Ibrahim K. V. wrote:
> 
> On 15 Oct 2014 12:39, "Noufal Ibrahim KV" <noufal at nibrahim.net.in
> <mailto:noufal at nibrahim.net.in>> wrote:
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 15 2014, Anand B Pillai wrote:
>>
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> > I don't think we should structure it so as to attract only the
>> > "experienced" people - the cream if you prefer. Then it would be
>> > possibly not a complete community conference - but a conference only
>> > for the community experts.
>>
>> I think you misunderstand. I'm not saying we should structure it to
>> attract an experts only audience.
>>
>> I'm saying that we should raise the bar in two ways.
>>
>>    1. Exclude first time speakers and introductory talks by people who
>>       have no real world experience with the topic. This improves the
>>       speakers.
>>
>>    2. Structure the conference (date, time, days, price etc.) in a way
>>       that dissuades disinterested people from attending. Only serious
>>       (though not necessarily experienced) people will come. This
>>       improves the audience.
>>
>> > IMO, we should cater to all levels of audience - Rank newbies, Python
>> > rookies, journeymen and masters should find something interesting to
>> > listen to and talk about.
>>
>> I'm contesting the use of the word "cater" here. I'm fine with an
>> introductory talk being given by someone who's used the technology in
>> question heavily and knows it's ins and outs.
>>
>> I'm against first time or inexperienced *speakers*.
> 
> I would say this is a wrong attitude to have. Experienced speakers don't
> sprout on trees. It takes a long time for someone to get good at it.
> 
> Also, having expert knowledge about a certain topic does not mean the
> person would have presentation skills as well.
> 
> Almost all the Pycons around the world welcome first time speakers,
> including Pycon US.
> 
> There should be an avenue for first timers to present and grow. At some
> point in time, the old will have to make way for the new. :)
> 
+1

Discouraging first-time speakers is a very negative, selfish, and
self-destructive path to follow. Open source is all about inclusiveness.
Competitive we can strive to be, but not exclusive.

- rejy (rmc)

>>
>> Try to please everyone will, I think, mean that we will please no
>> one. In the best case, we'll please the casual newbies who might get a
>> kick out of listening to an "flask for newbies" talk and going home with
>> a new T-shirt never to touch Python again.
>>
>> > In short, I don't believe in this philosophy of "raising the level
>> > every year". This is wrong. It should be about being more inclusive
>> > every year - having the right mix of talks to attract a varied
>> > audience.
>>
>> I'm on the other end. I think the conference should improve quality wise
>> and we should diversify (e.g. Python express) so that first timers who
>> want to learn the basics have other ways of getting what they want.
>>
>> Even for first timers, it's a good deal. They won't benefit at all from
>> a 30 minute "intro to foo" talk. They (or atleast the motivated ones)
>> will however benefit from experienced people talking about topics above
>> their level.
>>
>>
>>
>> [...]
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cordially,
>> Noufal
>> http://nibrahim.net.in
>> _______________________________________________
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