Comments on: Why we're posting a Michelle Obama speech as today's TEDTalk

By: Janio Barbosa

Janio Barbosa — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:39:54 +0000

As you can see my post is being done almost 4 years after the video appeared in TED. I just watched the video, with the same pleasure I’ve been feeling with a lot of the talks I watched in the last 6 months, after knowing TED and becoming somehow addicted to it.
Some of the posts question the place where the video was recorded… I don’t think it is important. Only an insignificant part of the audience that have access to the talks have the chance to be in the theater at the recording time. I’m sure everyone who goes to the TED stage directs his or her speech not to the public in the theater, but aiming the broad audience. Michelle didn’t talk only to that girls, but to every human being, specially, the young ones.
I live in Brazil and I’m sharing this video with all my friends because it has, indeed, ideas that worth spreading.

By: TEDxKids@Tokyo » Michelle Obama’s plea for education

TEDxKids@Tokyo » Michelle Obama’s plea for education — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:23:06 +0000

[...] *This is not a talk presented on TED or TEDx events. Yet It’s one of the official TED talks listed on TED’s website. Why? Find the answer on TED’s blogpost here. [...]

By: Chris Christodoulou

Chris Christodoulou — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Oh, no… Obamania in TED too! This truly is a pity… Most pitiful is your attempt to justify this… I didn’t bother to view the talk and I won’t! You say you don’t want to get involved in politics… Pfff… TED’s viewers are not only Americans and this is a pure insult to our intelligence! I’m so disappointed… Please take this video down and don’t put any other off-TED videos in order to justify this… Shame! If we want to see other videos there are other video sites. We don’t need an “intellectual YouTube”! Ted.com must remain only for TED talkers. Such a move is just opening the doors for all kinds of videos under the banner of new ideas (or as you yourselves say for this video, old but “eloquent and inspiring”! Please…. Spare us…). Disappointment is a very light word for what I feel but I really don’t want to use vulger language…

By: David McGeary

David McGeary — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

This is definitely a departure from the “usual” TED talk, but I don’t necessarily feel that the message is outside of the traditional themes found here. The occasional exception to the rule, while not good in large doses, does provide some variety.

By: David Loehr

David Loehr — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

As long as the “ideas worth spreading” are curated by the good folks at TED, then I don’t see a problem with including them here. Presumably, this is a talk that would fit right in at a TED conference, it just happened to occur elsewhere, that’s all.

It doesn’t mean that this site will become an “intellectual YouTube,” or that it will devolve into the same noise as the rest of the web.

What’s saddest of all is that this is not a political talk nor a political issue. Students everywhere–at any age, frankly–should take education seriously. Period. No ideology in that statement whatsoever. And no need to inject ideology into that statement because of the speaker.

Thank you for sharing this talk with us. This is the first I’d even heard of it, and I suspect without appearing here, it would have vanished into the ether as entirely too many good ideas often do.

By: Almar van der Krogt

Almar van der Krogt — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I love it. And I think it is appropriate for TED because, as you stated, it’s an ‘idea worth spreading’. It’s inspirational and that’s what I turn to TED for.
I read a newspaper article about Michelle Obama’s presentation earlier, which also describes the surprise of the visit to the school and the response of the students. It might be a nice addition.

By: Alan McCann

Alan McCann — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

TED non-partisan? Please.

It has been clear for years that the selection of speakers and the audience has a clear world view that slants in one direction. There have been token exceptions, of course, but the tone is undeniable to those outside the TED bubble and seemingly not noticeable to those inside.

Does that make TED bad – not at all. Clearly TED knows its core audience and serves it well.

This is a big step away from TED’s mission as I see it. There is nothing remarkable about this speech that other first ladies haven’t said… and it points to a bias despite claims otherwise.

By: Linda Ashworth

Linda Ashworth — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I wrestled with the idea of “non-TED” talks here on TED.com. It really comes down to presenting “all good ides” we can find or just the ones from conferences. Sorry TED, I like keeping the site simply for TED talks. Let the curious go out and find additional information elsewhere.

That being said, if you decide to continue with this trend, please set an incredibly high standard.

By: Patricio O'Shee

Patricio O'Shee — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

It’s not just about “ideas worth spreading”. You could spend 18 minutes arguing for an idea worth spreading, but if you don’t add something unique and innovative to that idea, you’ll be wasting your time and ours. I’m sure you’ll agree.

Personally, I didn’t find this talk inspiring. I felt like I was listening to a principal speaking on the first day of class. As far as eloquence is concerned, it was OK, but I honestly think many of us here could write a better speech (or certainly a more “passionate”, “personal” one), pleading for something that is important to us. Water. School workshops. Food programs. In any case, I would love to be invited to speak at TED. But, alas, I am no First Gentleman.

Secondly, while TED is non-partisan (Juan Enriquez, for instance, strongly opposes many of the current government’s policies), this issue is definitely political and ideological. Some of us (I mean humans) don’t want to educate, specially girls. http://www.ungei.org

By: L. Chris Miller

L. Chris Miller — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I think that the conflict is that this talk fits your mission but not your brand.

Your brand is exclusive, your mission inclusive/expansive.

Perhaps a separate area of your site could feature a limited number of non-TED content that TED finds compelling enough to share?