TBM gets into trouble at FAIR conference
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:31 am
Details can be found here at timesandseasons.org
From the post:
Later, in a comment, John Lynch himself weighs in with all the charm we've come to expect:
From the post:
Every other year of my attendance (check your records, boys, I’m a regular registrant), the room has been set up with narrow tables in front of the audience chairs. Dozens of people bring their laptops (FAIR even provides wireless Internet access) and take notes or do other work while listening to the speakers. I was counting on doing the same this year — I’m really only ever interested in two or three of the speakers anyway, and because of a crush of work I expected to work quietly during presentations of lesser interest. It wouldn’t have bothered anybody — no one could have told whether I was taking copious notes of, say, John Gee’s talk, or outlining a lecture for next week’s workshop.
Only today there were no tables.
The friend whom I had accompanied — one of the sweetest women you could ever meet, wife of a senior Mormon scholar and frequent past presenter at FAIR — suggested that we remove four chairs from the end of a row and put up one of the narrow tables. So we did, being very careful not to extend into the aisle, and not in any way to infringe on fire exits. We did it quickly, and quietly, and 45 minutes before the conference was scheduled to begin, without having interfered with any speaker or blocked anyone’s line of sight while we did so. We were quickly joined by three men who also needed the help of a table, and were eyed enviously by a number of others who weren’t as bold as my friend.
But that little streak of independence could not, of course, be permitted in a conference which is so unlike every other Mormon studies conference I have ever attended. No, after a great deal of nervous fluttering by a woman member of the committee, who just couldn’t see her way clear to permitting such an act of defiance — not that anyone else was following our lead by putting up a single other table, and not that there weren’t many, many, many dozens of empty seats in the room when it came time to open the conference — she kept up her fluttering in our vicinity, and then fluttered by one member of the conference committee after another, until two big burly guys followed her to our corner and told us to go elsewhere.
Later, in a comment, John Lynch himself weighs in with all the charm we've come to expect:
How unfortunate that Ardis has chosen to characterize the events as she did. I would like to provide clarification on this matter.
FAIR volunteers were informed that a table had been removed from an area of the conference center controlled by South Town Expo and set up in an area designated for chairs. The format of the seating is agreed in advance with the Expo so as to be in compliance with fire codes, support attendance expectations, and accommodated those needing tables for computer usage. She was approached by volunteers and told we would be happy to move the table to the area in the back of the room designated for laptop users. She was similarly given the option of using her laptop from one of the chairs in the front. She stated that she would only move if forced to do so. Our staff requested that she comport herself as we expect all of our guests, and she chose to leave. If she requests, her money will be refunded.
FAIR does not discriminate in any way between supporters or critics, and all who are polite and civil are invited to attend our conferences. Accredited members of the press are invited to attend free of charge. Ardis’ abuse of our staff and insistence on preferential treatment is not condoned by FAIR and, like any other individual who behaves in such a manner, we will insist that she comply with staff instructions and avoid disrupting proceedings in order to attend.
John Lynch
FAIR Chairman