Events offer a haven from the noise.
Surfing the news or glancing at social media posts, it can feel as if every topic, idea, political position, and pop culture phenomenon is polarizing. I wonder if every generation feels they live in insanely divisive times. Personally, I don’t remember it ever being this gnarly.
I suppose that’s another reason to participate in live events. When people attend a trade show or pay to enjoy a cosplay event, they seek connection with others who share their enthusiasms. They have no trouble setting their differences aside. In fact, in a face-to-face setting, they know it’s just bad form to call people out in the way they might online. And of course, there are actual consequences for acting like a jerk in person; people tend to be on their best behavior.
Frankly, that’s something I’ve come to appreciate about events, whether I’m there as an attendee or in a more official capacity. It’s a haven from all the noise and chest beating. At a recent industry event, I expressed gratitude for being part of a business community unified by the idea that what we do matters. We build bridges that reach higher and that span the things that divide us. That feels pretty remarkable these days.
Unlike many social media pundits who seek popularity through weaponized language, people come to events because they seek fulfillment. They seek experiences, learning, networking, and commerce. They actually listen. I see this as a force for good—one that offers a counterbalance to polarization.
Multiply this effect by the 80 million people who attend trade shows every year in the U.S. alone. Expand this globally, and you can quickly see how massive the reach is. That’s why I believe live events are still the best tool society has to connect people in ways that promote civil discourse and enable collaboration. When the whole point is to connect, we approach things differently. When we seek to learn something new and leave better than we came, we have no choice—we seek first to understand.