TIL I learned the difference between TED and TEDx.

TEDx events are independently organized TED-like conferences that operate under a free license granted by TED. While they follow the general principles of TED, TEDx events are planned and coordinated by volunteers at the local level, aiming to bring the TED experience to a broader audience.

  • SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    89
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    20 days ago

    For as long as I remember TEDx to exist, I hear people complain that ted talks suck now.

    I always ask for example talks, and without fail it was a TEDx talk. And they never know that TEDx talks are very hit or miss in quality.

    “proper” TED talks generally (but of course not always) have good quality (although, I haven’t watched any lately. But a couple years ago I watched basically any tech or science related one)

    • Squiddlioni@kbin.melroy.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      62
      ·
      20 days ago

      Even proper TED talks can have some big issues. I’m thinking specifically about Kary Mullis getting up on stage and saying anthropogenic climate change isn’t real because he found a study that says there’s a current that fluctuates and absorbs anything we do–or something to that effect. If you didn’t know anything about Kary Mullis and just heard “Nobel prize winner” you might assume he’s credible. In actuality he was a pariah for talking out his ass about things he doesn’t have expertise in and doesn’t understand, specifically his climate and HIV/AIDS denialism.

      It’s always a good idea to approach any lecture with a critical view, but I can see why TED talks might warrant extra scrutiny. They project expertise and authority which may or may not actually be credible. The organization has a mottled record of vetting their speakers for actual expertise. (ETA: actual expertise in the content of their talk. Obviously Kary Mullis had actual expertise, just not in the things he said on stage)

  • yesman@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    58
    arrow-down
    14
    ·
    20 days ago

    Ted always sucked. The whole production is designed for self-promoters to flatter rich liberals and reassure them that they’re good people. Besides, a playlist of just Ted presenters who turned out to be a fraud would be hours of content probably.

    • slaacaa@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      7
      ·
      20 days ago

      I also don’t understand it. If the topic is interesting and important enough, write an article about it, happy to read it. No need to add an unnecessary layer of a human presenting it - if that is needed for anybody to listen, then the topic is not worth our time

        • Jakeroxs
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          20 days ago

          Long form YouTube has taken off, not specifically because people don’t want to learn/read, but because people’s time to actually sit down and read something is limited, so long form videos can be consumed while completing another task.

      • frayedpickles@lemmy.cafe
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        20 days ago

        People don’t read

        I mean, I would also prefer it…I don’t want a 10 minute 1 second video driven by a 14 year old YouTube algorithm change explaining which bolt to loosen, but here we are. People don’t read.

  • interurbain1er
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    30
    ·
    20 days ago

    I see it like pageants. TED is miss world. TEDx is miss cornfield.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      20 days ago

      … such as like you know Iraq, like you know, and such as education for children, such as, education, you know such as

      • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        20 days ago

        I mean, we have a competition where we judge people on their looks, and then expect them to also be smart.

      • interurbain1er
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        20 days ago

        Sounds like my TEDx speech. To excuse myself, I want to say that I got called 48h before because someone dropped out and asked to do 20 minutes on a topic I wasn’t close to an expert on and that was also only my second public speaking experience.

        I wish I had chatGPT at the time to write a bunch of bullshit for me.

  • AlternateRoute@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    20 days ago

    The barrier for entry for TEDx is very very low, worked with someone in management who had done one they where not with the company long.

    • interurbain1er
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      20 days ago

      I’ve done one. In some cities it’s about as selective as an open mic night at your local pub.

  • EngineerGaming@feddit.nl
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    20 days ago

    Used to listen to them as podcasts, and I didn’t really like them because they were all so damn short. Feels like they’re not covering the topic enough, and just as you’ve got invested - it’s already over.

  • randon31415@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    19 days ago

    I went to Comicon one year, thinking it would be amazing. It was just a swag den and a 10 hour line to see Stan Lee.

    It was then I realized that San Diego Comicon doesn’t move around to different cities and “Comicon” is just a name cons take.

      • GHiLA
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        20 days ago

        He pitted a bunch of silverspoon trust fund Twitch kids into fighting themselves in a shitty house, and lost money on it, then set up fights with a bunch of other Twitch streamers until they exploded.

        …I hate his politics, but. He can keep fucking with twitch streamers and YouTube personalities all he wants. More power to him on that front, actually.

        Hyde is more or less just there to kick lolcows, and get views when he does. He really isn’t a good person, but I love his collateral damage sometimes.

        • Vanth@reddthat.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          arrow-down
          3
          ·
          20 days ago

          Alt-right comedian who confuses his free speech to say bigoted things with a belief that people must find him funny.

          He also got into boxing in the way “alpha male” content creators do, left smack talking in the dust and made actual threats against his opponents and their families.

          But he’s a comedian so it’s all funny! /s

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    edit-2
    19 days ago

    While we’re throwing around our favorite TED talks, here’s the meat of my favorite in animated form.

    Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

    Looking back over my jobs, hobbies, life in general, yeah, this hits hard. And yes, they found some surprising results.

    EDIT: I was wrong. Not a TED talk. Watch it anyway and learn!