Even wearing poodle skirts, women somehow managed to gather into a pre-fab house's living room or kitchen. They oohed over the trendy plastic and plunked down their old man's cigarette cash for this exciting new invention.
Then came Mary Kay and Avon ladies. They travelled door to door, often alone. So right away they looked new and different to us. But then! They promised to return every month, handing us a scented, pocket-book beauty manual as a gift. Make-up and jewelry. A no-brainer, really.
Similar sales techniques and parties followed. I personally enjoyed the Pampered Chef parties. Because even you never buy something, you get to eat great food and chat with friends.
And now it seems, that men have their very own Tupperware Party: The TED Talks. My husband is gaga over this phenomenon. He also contests that my comparison is not a fair one, because the men don't gather to any one place.
But they do! They gather online, of course. And, of course, I know women participate, too. But it looks to me like men make up the majority of presenters. Am I wrong?
No doubt that TED entertains and informs equally well. They certainly deliver on the content. One must poke fun at them just a teensy, though, for some things they do. And do again. And again. Mix it up, will ya!
Almost everyone that gets on stage wants to channel Steve Jobs. First of all, they wear his clothes, with the nice jeans and either the pressed T-shirt or golf shirt--the universally recognized uniform of the computer programmer dude. Then, they've got the clip-on microphone. This allows the presenter to walk about the stage as they discuss their idea. (I'm convinced they really walk around because cue-card people, concealed just off stage, keep them on topic.) So after they walk and talk and walk and talk, waving their hands, pausing for effect to stare poignantly at the crowd, and then get back into the walking, there comes what I call the "Full House Moment."
You remember the TV sit-com, Full House? I used to love watching that. Every episode had a tangible pattern to it. Very predictable. They would start with comedy and laughs, then somebody messes up and makes a bad decision. More laughs, the person gets caught or confesses. Then: Music! The sappy music came on and you just knew that an important moment was coming wherein a character would actually verbalize the lesson of that show. One more laugh. Then curtain call.
TED has a "Full House Moment." Just like Mr. Jobs kept saying, "There's more! Wait, there's more! One more thing!" TED presenters all build up to this climax where their idea changes the world. That's when the sappy music fills the speakers in the form of applause, and often with a standing ovation. Mr. Presenter wipes either sweat or a sneaky tear off his face and we as the audience are no longer apes, but members of the enlightened upper class. At least, until we watch Comedy Central again.
I hope you don't mind me ribbing TED too much. I do like some of them myself. In particular, the one about the Kahn Academy. If you have a favorite, please post the link below.
Happy TED, everyone.
haha :) this is great. I love TED, but I don't watch it often. Don't have a favorite, though.
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