I introduced myself to Jeff, and he was very cordial and informal. All the panels and the vast majority of the audience seemed to be social/scenester/consumer bloggers rather than political bloggers, so I didn't know anyone or even recognize most of them, since that's not my scene. It was a useful reminder that the political blogosphere is but one of many blog subcultures. Other than Jeff - whose blog I visit daily and whose comment threads I contribute to frequently - the only blogger I saw with whom I had previously interacted was Nick Denton; we had argued last year about one of the periodic "is this antisemitism?" controversies. I didn't introduce myself to Nick, since he was one of the celebrities of the evening, I don't read his blogs, and I figured he wouldn't remember me anyway. (I don't have anything against his blogs or him, I just don't have time to read all the ones on topics that interest me more.)
The best description of the panels:
it really felt like a mid-90s dot com masturbation-fest where many of the folks in the room were seeking validation of their peers rather than information on where the movement is headed.(Yup. Been there, done that. I do appreciate that this kind of networking generates growth and development of the industry which ultimately benefits those of us who are more interested in particular content.) More reports here and here.
After the panels I noticed a young guy in a kippa sitting against the wall, who looked vaguely like a photo Steven I. Weiss took of himself after his braces came off. So I introduced myself, and lo, it was indeed Jewish blogging journalist about town and new member of the Forward staff Steven I. Weiss. Steve Silver - who I had corresponded with and met last summer at a Kabbalat Shabbat potluck in Riverside Park - also joined us for a short schmooze.
Steve Weiss, a few friends of his, and I all followed the celebrities and hangers-on to the designated after-event bar, and had a long far-ranging conversation which included: defining "journalism" vs. "blogging," how Gen X is already a previous generation to people Steve's age, the esoteric byways of kashrut (Yemeni Jews demonstrating how they cooked locusts back in the old country), and the illustrious history and gravitas of the Forward.
So for this I missed the last class of my mussar course (which I enjoyed very much), but I was just in a mood to play hooky and be frivolous.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention I also briefly met this guy at the bar, just before I left. He blogged the event too.
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