Dan Patterson

I'm giving serious consideration to not attending this year's SXSW Interactive conference.

I've been mulling this idea for a while, and last night I left a comment on Facebook and a post on Buzz regarding my decision-making process.  

Thus far your feedback, comments, DMs, emails, and thoughts have extremely helpful.  I had a blast covering last year's SXSW and I'm sure this year will be equally fun and productive.  

However, I post this not simply to crowdsource smart people in a decision-making process (though you are smart and I appreciate your thoughts).  The point of even considering #NoSXSW, and then posting content / soliciting comments is to demonstrate my own (and I believe shared with many) internal conflict about the nature of the social web.

Here's the comment and commentary:

Giving very serious consideration to not attending SXSW this year.

I haven't abandoned the idea of going, but I'm trying to (heh) make a 'mature' decision. I'm giving it serious consideration and weighing the options - both positive and negative:

Here's my reasoning: 
1) Time. I want to launch the @abcnewsradio platform sometime reasonably soon. 
2) Taste. I love you guys, but can stomach only so much social media and social media people. Seriously. I say this not to gripe, but in that I have VERY serious concerns about the insular and hyperbolic nature of social media. ESPECIALLY in the context of the field of journalism. There are a LOT of conference-goers and hot-air blowers. But what do these people DO? What have they BUILT? I'm building something and have been for a long time. I want to do it right and to the highest degree of quality possible. No joke. 
3.) Expense. It's tough times everywhere and while it can be expensed, it just seems like it's poor taste to go to SXSW of all places while at the same time my industry and my company are weathering a tough storm. Plus, dude, we're all broke as a joke, aren't we? 
4.) The WHCD is the following weekend. It's also a shorter, less expensive trip. Plus, wise people have told me that when given the choice to eat dinner with POTUS over talk about Twitter with social media people, always choose POTUS. Always.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. These are my thoughts but I'd love to hear yours. And honestly, I'd love to see you guys. 

But SXSW isn't a vacation and I want to get some serious shit done. I'll make a decision some time pretty soon. And I'd really love your feedback.

I'd like to reiterate that I have not yet made a decision, and your comments on Facebook, Twitter, and Buzz have been outstanding.  

But really, this decision and these posts are not about me.  This is about the interesting dichotomy and (at least internal) conflict between the remarkable connective nature of the social web, coupled with the remarkably insular nature of the communities that evangelize tech and social web tools. 

As always, your thoughtful feedback is appreciated. 

Thanks.

- DHP

Update on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 10:34AM by Dan Patterson

For the reasons listed above, I have decided to not attend this year's SXSW Interactive festival.  I'll contact partners one-on-one to make alternative plans.

Thanks.

- Dan

Update on Monday, March 15, 2010 at 5:30PM by Dan Patterson

What I Did Instead of attending SXSW.