August 15, 2004

Conferencing

Posted by Kieran

I don’t know when “conferencing” became a verb, but I guess I’m doing it all the same. I’m at the ASA Meetings in San Francisco, where the keynote speakers include well-known sociologist Paul Krugman. I’m off to the Economic Sociology Section reception soon, but I am nevertheless tempted by the Section on Alcohol Drugs and Tobacco reception. Meanwhile, the storm damage in Florida reminds me of the answer to the stupidest question in the world.

Posted on August 15, 2004 01:07 AM UTC
Comments

Actually, Paul Krugman is an economist. (Although a knowledge of sociology no doubt helps.)

Posted by Dogberry · August 15, 2004 03:30 AM

Actually, Paul Krugman is a gerund, like “conferencing.”

Posted by peter ramus · August 15, 2004 04:13 AM

“conference” was just jealous that “meeting” has been a noun all these years.

Posted by stlouis · August 15, 2004 04:44 AM

Isn’t confer a verb, with participle “conferring” and noun “conference”? Can we look to a new noun “conferencingment” and so on?

While I am at it, why is that people at a conference are now called “delegates” even when no-one has delegated them.

Posted by John Quiggin · August 15, 2004 05:05 AM

Yes. You might confer with a commenter here, unless conferencing with a commentator.

Posted by peter ramus · August 15, 2004 05:14 AM

The Section on Alcohol Drugs and Tobacco probably throws a better party… Good thing they swapped out the firearms for drugs.

Posted by Larry B · August 15, 2004 06:04 AM

Actually, Paul Krugman is an economist.

Thanks for pointing that out to me, Dogberry.

Posted by Kieran Healy · August 15, 2004 06:33 AM

Oh dear, too late - I was going to point out (gently, as is my wont) that the Krugman as sociologist thing was a joke.

Dogberry is a very appropriate name therefore!

Posted by Ophelia Benson · August 15, 2004 05:29 PM

Re: The Stupidest Question in the World, that’s not bad. But I’m not sure it unseats the longtime champion (overheard at Shasta Dam in California in early 80s): “Can they still use the water after they take the electricity out of it?”

Posted by George · August 18, 2004 01:38 AM
Followups

This discussion has been closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.