IsayUsaySsay

Name: Irene de Groot
Time: 16.00-18.00 (V2-exhibition space)
Subject: Final Debate, as experienced in Rotterdam 
Date: Sunday 21 January 1996

What should have been a nice closing of the Next 5 Minutes, bringing together the two locations by videoconferencing, was by at least a part of the audience in Rotterdam experienced as a leap backwards in the struggle for sexual equality.

Although it was announced that the lecture probably would be disturbed by 'Amsterdam coming in', it immediately became clear that this was very rude towards the lecturers, once the moment was there. Some 'new' people took place behind the microphones and tried to communicate, through one telephone, with Amsterdam. As very soon became clear that it would take some time before the connection was made, the audience seeing and hearing nothing more than the voice of one man (so it seemed), people started to walk out of the room, offended and angry. Now that female speakers were finally in the majority, ironically enough they were silenced... The atmosphere became more and more uncomfortable, until one of the runaways re-entered the room and shouted: "How long do you think that this boy-toy thing is going to last? It's not fun and it's not interesting!" After another painful silence, the lecturers were politely asked to finish their presentations, which they, to everyone's relief, did. Unfortunately, the bus to Amsterdam had to leave half an hour before the end of the final presentation.

A somewhat unsatisfying and chilly parting from the Next 5 Minutes.

Irene de Groot (igro@xs4all.nl)