Conferences are strange things because they are officially about one thing but unofficially, they are about something else. For example, a business conference is organized around business topics or maybe a business sector, but the people are there to network and socialize. Academic conferences are organized around a set of academic subjects, but the people are there to promote their own work.
Political conferences are about politics, but the main draw for the speakers is self-promotion, or for the more committed, promotion of their issue. The attendees are there to maybe see their favorite speaker or writer, but also to enjoy the fellowship of others who share their politics. Mainstream political conferences often feel like a trade show plopped in the middle of big party.
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