Gnomedex 9.0 – Oh, What I Learned…

This last Friday and Saturday, I spent two days immersed in Gnomedex 9.0 in Seattle, put together by Chris Pirillo. It was my first Gnomedex experience. I knew several people who were going to it, and watching the conversation via Twitter, it sounded like an experience worth exploring. So I took the plunge and shelled out the bucks for a full 2-day pass.

The room was filled with geeks and nerds. Okay, maybe not everyone, but definitely more than I had ever seen in one place. Please don’t take this the wrong way, I’m just painting a picture here. So, what exactly did I learn in those two days?

Conversation rules. Whether it was during breaks, at lunch or after the event, as with any community, discussion and life-revealing insights abounded. Stories told, questions asked that spurred deeper thoughts and ideas that will be taken beyond the walls of the conference.

Yes, I am good at multitasking. The experts say it is impossible, that you really do only focus on one thing at a time. But when I found myself posting tweets, following gnomedex on twitter, checking email, setting up a client meeting, etc. etc. and yes, wandering to Biznik.com occasionally, I was in the groove.

I am not a geek or nerd. Yes, I knew this already deep in my heart, and never claimed to be. But until you experience this collective energy that they possess, you will never know. Jokes told where I find I’m one of the few not laughing. Eyes glazing over as a group of young techies at lunch converse in languages unknown to me.

This community has passion. I have been to all kinds of conferences, and sometimes one can be just like another, just a different spin. And although I may not understand every realm of geekdom, I do know that at Gnomedex there was a passion for technology, a passion for knowledge and a passion for social causes. They were there for a reason, and it went beyond the typical conference.

Finally ten other things I learned at Gnomedex 9.0.

1. Attendees are not allowed to go hungry or thirsty.

2. Geeks really like Star Wars.

3. An amazing 3-D printer does exist.

4. I can now blame everything on Drew’s cancer.

5. Hard-core spammers can turn around their lives.

6. Macintosh and PC users can co-exist in the same room.

7. Getting a flask in our swag bag does not mean we can fill it right away.

8. Never be surprised at the interjection of four-letter words.

9. If you leave early, your name will be pulled for a prize.

10. Geeks and nerds are people too!

My hats off to Chris Pirillo and his gang for Gnomedex 9.0 The blend of human and social intereaction, both in person and online, again, shows me the power of the online community.

Visit Gnomedex 9.0

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