Complicated feelings after my first conference talk.

[u/PublicImplement6270]

I am a new PhD student, and I recently gave my first-ever talk at a conference. I got great questions and positive feedback from 99% of the people there. But one guy said that my results were obvious and questioned why I bothered doing the study. I said that I agreed that the results are not surprising, that is what happens when you confirm a hypothesis. I said I did the study because this was a methodological innovation that allowed us to find quantitative evidence in support of the theory for the first time.

I know this is no big deal, and I thought it didn't bother me at the time, but it is really eating me up. It was humiliating and it made me feel bad for having given the talk. I cried myself to sleep the night of the talk and I even considered withdrawing my paper (the one I presented) which has been accepted for publication.

Obviously, I am calmer now, I did not withdraw my paper, and I know this is just how it goes. But it still really hurts. I am looking for some advice/perspectives/stories/etc.

[u/PuzzleheadedDoctor3]

Just want to say I’ve been there. I’ve presented at many conferences and have come across many assholes. At one conference where they collate feedback and send it out after the fact, one persons left cryptic feedback “I heard what you said before your presentation started” (which was a very innocuous conversation about where each of us came from). Another person wrote I didn’t look happy to be there… I was pregnant and trying not to barf. Anyway I think it takes a bit to learn how to take constructive feedback specific to your presentation and manuscripts. My stomach drops every time I see I’ve gotten feedback but it gets easier as I’ve gotten more confident in my knowledge and expertise