When it comes down to the hard questions...

[maradydd]

This is sort of a poll but it is also sort of an essay question. After the incredible time I had this week, I'm torn in half.

I was originally planning to spend Labor Day weekend at ConJose, the 60th Worldcon. I really want to get to meet jdeguzman and see Chuckles and E and Karin and the other Sporks and Sock Monkeys again. Colin and I were already planning to go, despite the expense, and of course I'm going to discuss this with him but I want input, dammit.

The other option is COLING, the 19th International Conference on Computational Linguistics, from 24 August-1 September. It's the same time as Worldcon, but longer. I can't go to all of it, because I have to be there on Monday the 26th for the first meeting of the class I teach, unless I can talk someone else into doing it for me...but I could be there for a good chunk of the proceedings.

I'm so incoherent now I can't even begin to describe how incoherent I am. Alexander and I stayed up until five in the morning last night, talking music, philosophy, linguistics, life stories, incredible stuff. I finally dropped from exhaustion; he prodded me out of bed at 8:30 so I could do my syntax midterm. My Last-Minute Miracle superpowers kicked in and I knocked the whole thing out in two hours. Later on, I had to invoke them again to get him to the airport on time -- yes, Virginia, I can drive 100mph down the freeway weaving in and out of traffic and not kill anyone -- and now I'm indescribably loopy. Jason thought I was stoned when he called a few minutes ago, and I guess technically I am, but it's endorphins and sleep-dep.

So this is my question. If you were me, which conference would you go to, and why?

I'm probably going to whine later about the respective rewarding-ness of my wildly divergent career choices, but for now I'm going to go eat and exude on Jason's shoulder.

Comments

You probably already know my answer....

[songblaze.livejournal.com]

...but I'd go to Worldcon. Simply because I like to think of myself as a writer (whether or not I am is debatable), and...frankly, computers and I don't get along. But...in your position, I'd have a harder choice. I /think/ I'd still go to Worldcon, because...I don't know, I like collections of fantasy related stuff. As my test said, I /am/ a Fantasy Geek.

~Blaze

endorphins and sleep-dep...

[espvivisection.livejournal.com]

Ah, welcome to my life. It's a totally natural high. Add not eating to that list and the world goes kablooey, with hazy and other fun, non-normative synapse firings.

I think I would go to COLING, which isn't to say that I don't think I, personal, would have more fun there than WorldCon, but that I think it would be a great motivational way to kick of your academic year as well as give you a chance to network a bit and get the scoop on the forefront of your field…

Message me about the show on Houston. I don’t remember if you told me yes or no.

This is going to be a biased answer

[deifire]

I would go to ConJose, but only because I'm answering as myself, and I've been trying to get to a WorldCon for years, only to be stopped by lack of funds.

If I were you, though...hmmm...it would be a harder decision. I'd guess I'd base it on which would be the most cost effective, which you knew the most people at, and which you would likely get the most out of. Also, if you missed the first part of COLING, would you still be able to attend without getting that weird, walked-in-during-the-second-reel feeling? Some events I've been at were like that.