Comments on: Davos-bound http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/ by Jeff Jarvis Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:07:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jeff in Ohio http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-279769 Jeff in Ohio Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:57:04 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-279769 Hey, i wanna sell out! Why won't anyone ask me to be co-opted by the wealthy and powerful? I could at least wrestle with my inner demons in lieu of exercise for that day (but i'd just say yes in a heartbeat). In fact, i am delighted that Messr. Jarvis will have a chalet in Davos, and expect regular updates as sufficient expiation for selling out. And keep the Mann references to a minimum, please. Just make sure to tell us about the food along with all the policy insights. . . Wannabe Sell-out in the Midwest Hey, i wanna sell out! Why won’t anyone ask me to be co-opted by the wealthy and powerful? I could at least wrestle with my inner demons in lieu of exercise for that day (but i’d just say yes in a heartbeat).

In fact, i am delighted that Messr. Jarvis will have a chalet in Davos, and expect regular updates as sufficient expiation for selling out.

And keep the Mann references to a minimum, please. Just make sure to tell us about the food along with all the policy insights. . .

Wannabe Sell-out in the Midwest

]]> By: John vR http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-279316 John vR Mon, 15 Jan 2007 06:40:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-279316 I've attended the World Economic Forum in the early nineties as a reporter for a major news service. On the one hand, the criticism about the powerful gathering in an exclusive, isolated venue is valid, but on the other hand, in all my years in journalism I have never attended a gathering where you could buttonhole so many of the world's powerful people without any problems whatsoever. I remember chatting about some EU proposal with one of my colleagues at the opening reception and we had some questions. Lo and behold, Sir Leon Brittan, then EU commissioner, walks by. I tap him on his shoulder. We introduce ourselves and ask our questions. I also remember a lone US Senator hanging out near the buffet table and still regret not introducing myself, as he might have become president has Bush not defeated him in 2004. I did interview several CEOs, Central Bankers and politicians by merely going up to them and asking for a quick chat. So, yes, exclusive. But once in, there's an openness beyond belief from a reporter's perspective. Have fun... I’ve attended the World Economic Forum in the early nineties as a reporter for a major news service. On the one hand, the criticism about the powerful gathering in an exclusive, isolated venue is valid, but on the other hand, in all my years in journalism I have never attended a gathering where you could buttonhole so many of the world’s powerful people without any problems whatsoever.

I remember chatting about some EU proposal with one of my colleagues at the opening reception and we had some questions. Lo and behold, Sir Leon Brittan, then EU commissioner, walks by. I tap him on his shoulder. We introduce ourselves and ask our questions. I also remember a lone US Senator hanging out near the buffet table and still regret not introducing myself, as he might have become president has Bush not defeated him in 2004. I did interview several CEOs, Central Bankers and politicians by merely going up to them and asking for a quick chat.

So, yes, exclusive. But once in, there’s an openness beyond belief from a reporter’s perspective. Have fun…

]]> By: tzvee http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-279019 tzvee Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:43:01 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-279019 I've attended academic by-invitation-conversations with a roundtable of thirty or so where some serious give-and-take occurs. Can you explain while there the format and the goals? Good luck to you. I’ve attended academic by-invitation-conversations with a roundtable of thirty or so where some serious give-and-take occurs. Can you explain while there the format and the goals? Good luck to you.

]]> By: Robert MacMillan http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-278718 Robert MacMillan Sun, 14 Jan 2007 22:37:30 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-278718 The Magic Mountain contained one lesson above all others: If you have disposable income and a vague sense of unease about the world, the best thing to do is go to Davos for seven years, eat and drink well, and occasionally evince some concern about the dying. Now that's my idea of a good time! The Magic Mountain contained one lesson above all others: If you have disposable income and a vague sense of unease about the world, the best thing to do is go to Davos for seven years, eat and drink well, and occasionally evince some concern about the dying. Now that’s my idea of a good time!

]]> By: Ann B. http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-278487 Ann B. Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:16:16 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-278487 Apologies for not posting this in a separate Daylife section, but I figured I was ok commenting here because there is, at least, one brief Daylife reference. Can I just say I hate how the entry page implies you need to take a tour to understand everything. It strikes me as annoying as being forced to register and I know how you object to that. Can't you make an entry page that doesn't require an explanation and/or a tour. Surely a successful entry page would give you enough info. to use the site right away. The tour and lengthy explanation would be optional later. I"m an online news and blog addict but Daylife leaves me feeling completely lost and worried that understanding the site is going to take a great chunk of my time. I want to know what it does, but I've already been hugely confused and, as a result, turned off. Apologies for not posting this in a separate Daylife section, but I figured I was ok commenting here because there is, at least, one brief Daylife reference.

Can I just say I hate how the entry page implies you need to take a tour to understand everything. It strikes me as annoying as being forced to register and I know how you object to that.

Can’t you make an entry page that doesn’t require an explanation and/or a tour.

Surely a successful entry page would give you enough info. to use the site right away. The tour and lengthy explanation would be optional later.

I”m an online news and blog addict but Daylife leaves me feeling completely lost and worried that understanding the site is going to take a great chunk of my time. I want to know what it does, but I’ve already been hugely confused and, as a result, turned off.

]]> By: Cooler Heads http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-278310 Cooler Heads Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:20:17 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-278310 Can anyone report a real outcome, or policy shift, or something that has come out of Davos? Not talk, but action that has results. Looks to me like lots of rich people and windbags in a far away land listening to themselves talk about how great they are. Can anyone report a real outcome, or policy shift, or something that has come out of Davos? Not talk, but action that has results.

Looks to me like lots of rich people and windbags in a far away land listening to themselves talk about how great they are.

]]> By: Pat Lowery http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-278052 Pat Lowery Sun, 14 Jan 2007 15:55:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-278052 This discussion reminds me of the movement that John Wonderlich of the DailyKos, is taking on to bring more openness in Congress. It is called the Congressional Committees Project in which Congress will allow more accessibility to the public in committee meetings where deals are brokered behind closed doors. I am intrigued and delighted by the success bloggers are haivng in changing the world as we know it. What we need is more transparency and thusly, more accountability in the world today. So, Robert you're on the money. And Jeff, keep us posted. This discussion reminds me of the movement that John Wonderlich of the DailyKos, is taking on to bring more openness in Congress. It is called the Congressional Committees Project in which Congress will allow more accessibility to the public in committee meetings where deals are brokered behind closed doors.

I am intrigued and delighted by the success bloggers are haivng in changing the world as we know it. What we need is more transparency and thusly, more accountability in the world today. So, Robert you’re on the money.

And Jeff, keep us posted.

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-277992 Jeff Jarvis Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:36:47 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-277992 Robert, Certainly fair criticism. They say they want to open up the conversation and I believe that. How open can it be? Especially when 2,000 machers are surrounded by mountains, snow, and security -- and themselves? We'll see. I've been helping on a project that will try to do this (it will go up midweek) but it's necessarily limited, just a step. Yes, we'll see. I hope you join in that and I'll explain more later. Family stuff this morning; gotta go. Robert,
Certainly fair criticism. They say they want to open up the conversation and I believe that. How open can it be? Especially when 2,000 machers are surrounded by mountains, snow, and security — and themselves? We’ll see. I’ve been helping on a project that will try to do this (it will go up midweek) but it’s necessarily limited, just a step. Yes, we’ll see. I hope you join in that and I’ll explain more later. Family stuff this morning; gotta go.

]]> By: Robert Feinman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-277982 Robert Feinman Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:24:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-277982 Davos is a real vote for the belief in democracy (snark). The world's movers and shakers meet behind barriers at one of the least accessible places just to insure that no voices from those who will be most affected by their decisions have any input at all. Inviting a few token outsiders (especially ones with a public voice like Bono) is just part of the process to co-opt them. Why is it that those who claim that a "market economy" backed up democratic governments are the best model for mankind are unwilling to follow the principles they claim to support? Who elected these people to make international policy decisions? In the US when competitors meet behind closed doors the presumption is they are engaged in illegal collusion. Apparently the rules don't apply when the meeting is "public" and overseas. Davos is a real vote for the belief in democracy (snark). The world’s movers and shakers meet behind barriers at one of the least accessible places just to insure that no voices from those who will be most affected by their decisions have any input at all.

Inviting a few token outsiders (especially ones with a public voice like Bono) is just part of the process to co-opt them. Why is it that those who claim that a “market economy” backed up democratic governments are the best model for mankind are unwilling to follow the principles they claim to support?

Who elected these people to make international policy decisions? In the US when competitors meet behind closed doors the presumption is they are engaged in illegal collusion. Apparently the rules don’t apply when the meeting is “public” and overseas.

]]> By: Grayson http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-277981 Grayson Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:24:16 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-277981 We here in 'Merica will alert the trailer park manager to be sure to point the dish in that direction. We here in ‘Merica will alert the trailer park manager to be sure to point the dish in that direction.

]]> By: Hasan Jafri http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/01/14/davos-bound/#comment-277648 Hasan Jafri Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:48:01 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=2397#comment-277648 Jeff, Have a great time, and remember to take a copy of Thomas Mann’s “Magic Mountain” with you to Davos. As you probably know, Mann was a regular (due to his wife’s illness) when Europeans went to Davos to “take the cure.” This was long before finance ministers and economists arrived to find a fix for the world economy.. Magic Mountain’s characters include Settembrini (representing human values), Naphtha (radicalism), Peeperkorn (the Dionysian principle), and Chauchat (love and temptation). Tell us if you meet some of them among your globalizing fellow delegates. Looking forward to your posts from Davos. Jeff,

Have a great time, and remember to take a copy of Thomas Mann’s “Magic Mountain” with you to Davos. As you probably know, Mann was a regular (due to his wife’s illness) when Europeans went to Davos to “take the cure.” This was long before finance ministers and economists arrived to find a fix for the world economy..

Magic Mountain’s characters include Settembrini (representing human values), Naphtha (radicalism), Peeperkorn (the Dionysian principle), and Chauchat (love and temptation). Tell us if you meet some of them among your globalizing fellow delegates.

Looking forward to your posts from Davos.

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