Changing interdependencies often produce local or regional policy dilemmas as contesting sides push to shape the direction of change and boundaries within which change occurs. Each of the presenters has a different geographic and subject matter experience base. The AAEA organizers encourage symposia to have an interactive format. With that background in mind we want to try an experiment. We are trying to be more intentional about how our conversation will proceed.
Speakers make remarks, but there is often little connection to the remarks of other speakers.
The remarks seem to pop off in many directions. The speaker s remarks often begin. In these forums conversation is usually a form of competition. In conventional discussion each of the participants is usually trying to persuade others, to press the group to agree with them, to defend their assumptions and to move the group toward adopting their idea. The contest mode of conventional discussion encourages each participant to listen to respond not to listen to fully understand.