Comments on: Blogher ‘09 and The Story of Stuff http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:45:14 -0700 hourly 1 By: Condo Blues http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6850 Condo Blues Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:46:55 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6850 OK, I want to know who was giving out the free cats? :) OK, I want to know who was giving out the free cats? :)

]]> By: Aurora http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6839 Aurora Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:02:37 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6839 great post! I found the swag at the san francisco blogher last year bad enough--and even then it seemed very much a corporate co-opted conference. I spent 9 months with a pledge of "buy nothing new"--that sure raises your consciousness about over consumption ! and how easy it is to be sucked in...but I found myself wondering how much of the stuff I would have accepted at this conference---since it was "free"--even tho I know nothing is really "free": no such thing as free lunch. Getting in bed with corporations is not solving anything,as far as I am concerned---womenc ertainly can network without their help! and hopefully the next blogher will consider this--or maybe we need to start a different conference with different values? great post! I found the swag at the san francisco blogher last year bad enough–and even then it seemed very much a corporate co-opted conference. I spent 9 months with a pledge of "buy nothing new"–that sure raises your consciousness about over consumption ! and how easy it is to be sucked in…but I found myself wondering how much of the stuff I would have accepted at this conference—since it was "free"–even tho I know nothing is really "free": no such thing as free lunch. Getting in bed with corporations is not solving anything,as far as I am concerned—womenc ertainly can network without their help! and hopefully the next blogher will consider this–or maybe we need to start a different conference with different values?

]]> By: cv harquail http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6826 cv harquail Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:58:27 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6826 Beth, thanks so much for mentioning my post about swag "Perverting the Purpose" of BlogHer09. The suggestions you offer in this post are just terrific, because they are practical AND get BH back to its core values. I especially like the ideas to focus on writing and also on community outreach. Great job, thanks so much.<br />CV Harquail<br />AuthenticOrganizations.com Beth, thanks so much for mentioning my post about swag "Perverting the Purpose" of BlogHer09. The suggestions you offer in this post are just terrific, because they are practical AND get BH back to its core values. I especially like the ideas to focus on writing and also on community outreach. Great job, thanks so much.
CV Harquail
AuthenticOrganizations.com

]]> By: Condo Blues http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6819 Condo Blues Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:36:35 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6819 {sarcasm}SoapNuts? You got SoapNuts! I wanted to check with them if they would work in my HE washer. I mean, go to the swagalious Soap Nuts party and get as much stuff as I could. Next, year I'm bringing a battering ram to get through the crowds and grab me some more stuff.{/sarcasm} <br /><br />Seriously though, one of the good things that is coming out of this swag hag situation is that its making a lot of non enviro people think and talk about how it's just too much. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with this companies about their green (and not so) products more than just getting stuff. I wish the swag recycling was open later because I took home a lot of junk than I wanted to. {sarcasm}SoapNuts? You got SoapNuts! I wanted to check with them if they would work in my HE washer. I mean, go to the swagalious Soap Nuts party and get as much stuff as I could. Next, year I'm bringing a battering ram to get through the crowds and grab me some more stuff.{/sarcasm}

Seriously though, one of the good things that is coming out of this swag hag situation is that its making a lot of non enviro people think and talk about how it's just too much. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with this companies about their green (and not so) products more than just getting stuff. I wish the swag recycling was open later because I took home a lot of junk than I wanted to.

]]> By: Anne-Marie at This Mama Cooks! http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6808 Anne-Marie at This Mama Cooks! Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:39:22 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6808 Beth, the BlogHer conference has always tried to walk the fine line between affordable and commercial. This year, unfortunately the scale tipped too much towards commercial and the promises that were kept successfully last year about recycling, helping out bloggers financially with the swamp meet, etc. didn't work out this year. But knowing the BlogHer team, they are listening and will make adjustments next year.<br /><br />As far as Less Luxury goes, I've been suggesting to BlogHer for years to have the conference on a college campus in the middle of nowhere (Montana? Ohio? Colorado?). We could call it BlogHer University, stay in the dorms, have picnics and cookouts on the lawn, have plenty of lecture halls to accomodate everyone who wanted to attend a session - and probably make it more affordable, too. Yes, it's fun to go to the big cities, but I'd rather hang out by the pool as we did at Blogher06, get to know people one on one, and not be distracted by fancy parties and restaurants. Beth, the BlogHer conference has always tried to walk the fine line between affordable and commercial. This year, unfortunately the scale tipped too much towards commercial and the promises that were kept successfully last year about recycling, helping out bloggers financially with the swamp meet, etc. didn't work out this year. But knowing the BlogHer team, they are listening and will make adjustments next year.

As far as Less Luxury goes, I've been suggesting to BlogHer for years to have the conference on a college campus in the middle of nowhere (Montana? Ohio? Colorado?). We could call it BlogHer University, stay in the dorms, have picnics and cookouts on the lawn, have plenty of lecture halls to accomodate everyone who wanted to attend a session – and probably make it more affordable, too. Yes, it's fun to go to the big cities, but I'd rather hang out by the pool as we did at Blogher06, get to know people one on one, and not be distracted by fancy parties and restaurants.

]]> By: Linda http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6800 Linda Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:00:42 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6800 I watched the video on your blog and was sickened when he said that the recycling boxes (at BlogHer Pepsi) with their contents were just thrown in the trash. If it happened like he said, Pepsico lied. There were a lot of these recycling boxes in their expo area. Maybe they want us to think they are doing the green thing, but when everyone leaves, they do what is convenient, rather than what is green. This makes me wonder, can they really be trusted? Are we naive for thinking that Pepsico agreeing not to hand out bottled water is a big victory?<br /><br />Linda A of Citizen Green I watched the video on your blog and was sickened when he said that the recycling boxes (at BlogHer Pepsi) with their contents were just thrown in the trash. If it happened like he said, Pepsico lied. There were a lot of these recycling boxes in their expo area. Maybe they want us to think they are doing the green thing, but when everyone leaves, they do what is convenient, rather than what is green. This makes me wonder, can they really be trusted? Are we naive for thinking that Pepsico agreeing not to hand out bottled water is a big victory?

Linda A of Citizen Green

]]> By: Diane MacEachern http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6799 Diane MacEachern Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:07:18 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6799 Beth,<br /><br />Women have to wake up and smell the (organic) coffee - or in this case, smell the swag and leave it alone! If we'd only stop foaming at the mouth over free junk companies would be forced to produce products and services with real value. We have the power to change the world. We should start acting like it. Harrummpph! Beth,

Women have to wake up and smell the (organic) coffee – or in this case, smell the swag and leave it alone! If we'd only stop foaming at the mouth over free junk companies would be forced to produce products and services with real value. We have the power to change the world. We should start acting like it. Harrummpph!

]]> By: Green Bean http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6798 Green Bean Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:10:13 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6798 Great post, Beth. As you know, since we were there together, I went to BlogHer 08. I honestly left feeling sick to my stomach. So much of the focus was on stuff and commercialism and more stuff. Is that what we are all blogging for? What I write, is in many ways, an opening into my soul. Am I doing this to get some cheap crap for free.<br /><br />We as women need to figure out who we are and what we want out of life. With a little self examination, I'll be the answer is not a big Mr. Potato Head. Great post, Beth. As you know, since we were there together, I went to BlogHer 08. I honestly left feeling sick to my stomach. So much of the focus was on stuff and commercialism and more stuff. Is that what we are all blogging for? What I write, is in many ways, an opening into my soul. Am I doing this to get some cheap crap for free.

We as women need to figure out who we are and what we want out of life. With a little self examination, I'll be the answer is not a big Mr. Potato Head.

]]> By: Erika http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6797 Erika Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:28:15 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6797 I'm really glad for your BlogHer 09 review. I had thought about attending, but having gone to many conferences for previous jobs, I had a pretty good idea what the experience would be like. Looks like I was right, sad to say. I'm really glad for your BlogHer 09 review. I had thought about attending, but having gone to many conferences for previous jobs, I had a pretty good idea what the experience would be like. Looks like I was right, sad to say.

]]> By: kmevans74 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-story-of-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-6796 kmevans74 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:04:59 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/07/blogher-09-and-the-story-of-stuff/#comment-6796 I'd like to say, I particularly like what you said under "Who are you as a blogger," and I feel you can really extend it to say "who are you as a person." This summer, your blog inspired me to make big changes in our lifestyle. I started a diary using the same questions you posted, and I started writing a "mission statement" for myself. Without the mission statement, I would buy things I didn't need, and I had a long list of "wants" for the house that added extra stress to my life. It's amazing how such a simple statement gives me the backbone and confidence to become a smart shopper, and ulitmately simplify my life. I tend to hoard, store, and buy things when they are on sale even when I don't need them, and the mission statement is helping me get past that. Thank you for giving me the direction I need--you have become my own little cognitive behavioral therapist! I'd like to say, I particularly like what you said under "Who are you as a blogger," and I feel you can really extend it to say "who are you as a person." This summer, your blog inspired me to make big changes in our lifestyle. I started a diary using the same questions you posted, and I started writing a "mission statement" for myself. Without the mission statement, I would buy things I didn't need, and I had a long list of "wants" for the house that added extra stress to my life. It's amazing how such a simple statement gives me the backbone and confidence to become a smart shopper, and ulitmately simplify my life. I tend to hoard, store, and buy things when they are on sale even when I don't need them, and the mission statement is helping me get past that. Thank you for giving me the direction I need–you have become my own little cognitive behavioral therapist!

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