While I’m disappointed that WCUS was cancelled, I applaud the team’s decision against moving forward with it as a virtual event.

Most days I love sitting quietly behind the keyboard, and conference crowds are a distant third or fourth (at least) on my list of ways to experience the WordPress community.

However, there’s unquantifiable magic in in-person events that even the most well-planned virtual event can’t replicate. I go, soak it all in, and return with a beautiful case of info & social networking overload.

There’s been a tendency throughout this pandemic for people to think that they can simply switch their event or services to virtual, whether they have the experience/resources or not.

I’ve no doubt that a WCUS team could put on as good a virtual event as any. So it’s refreshing to see that – unlike the rest of the internet – this year’s team isn’t kidding themselves about the benefits of a virtual WC.

I’m mentally drained by the proliferation of Zoom meetings, virtual events and screen time that generally gives back little of what I invest.

Kudos to the 2020 WCUS team for recognizing that we are all tired of so much right now, and that even the best planned virtual WCUS would likely be met with at best a lukewarm response.

Best to save their remaining energy for another time. Hopefully next year.