If you want people to be bored and frustrated, put them in a seat in a dark auditorium and force them to listen to five people drone on about how they are great, have it tough, how the hard problems can’t be solved but we have to solve them anyway, or god knows what they’re talking about sometimes.

People go to conferences to learn. One-directional communication (a guy at the front of a dark auditorium with a powerpoint) can be a hindrance to the free flow of ideas. Thus, the un-conference: classrooms with leaders who can call on people and steer the conversation, like your college discussion sections (except this time you care). I’d go. Discussions are how I learn best.