Your Biggest Panel Discussion Pet Peeve: 2024 Panel Report Findings
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I thought this Reddit thread was particularly interesting – it started with someone grousing about a panelist who read their paper for 35 minutes when only 15 were allowed. There are sooooo many bad things to be said about this one post….
- How rude to exceed the time given to read your paper!
- Why are you reading a paper that everyone could read either before or after the panel?
- Where is the “discussion” in a “panel discussion?”
Evidently, this post leads to a larger conversation about your particular “panel-related pet peeve” with 32 comments and 166 people weighing in with an up or downvote.
Here are the top answers to a panelist going over time:
- Cut people off if need be. It need not be incredibly hostile. Something like, “Perhaps some of the details you wanted to discuss will come out in the Q&A” or something like that.
- Stand up, wave your hands, and then speak out loud.
- Hold up a “stop speaking” sign for several minutes.
- Hum music into my mic Oscars-style if they go over.
- Mute their microphone.
- Tackle the guy.
- Have two goons escort him out.
- The American Shakespeare Center hosts the Blackfriars Conference for which, if you go over time, someone dressed in a bear costume will come out and take your paper away.
The thing is, somebody has to keep control of the panel – and that’s control over the content and time. That person is the moderator. As a Reddit commenter said, “I guarantee everyone in the audience thought you were a hero… those situations are so awkward and everyone appreciates the one that shuts it down.”
Obviously, this particular pet peeve struck a chord. It is when the moderator DOESN’T do anything that strikes a nerve.
In the recently released 2024 Panel Report, we asked about pet peeves – and the number one pet peeve should not come as a surprise. It is the same in 2024 as it was in 2014 and in the Reddit post – ineffective/poor moderation.
What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to panel discussions?
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For more information about how to moderate a lively & informative panel discussion, check out our free 7-part video series on how to moderate a panel and other resources to help you organize, moderate, or be a panel member.
