midding – n. the tranquil pleasure of being near a gathering but not quite in it – hovering on the perimeter of a campfire, talking quietly outside a party, resting your eyes in the back seat of a car listening to friends chatting up front – feeling blissfully invisible yet still fully included, safe in the knowledge that everyone is together and everyone is okay, with all the thrill of being there without the burden of having to be.
I thinking I feel midding all the time, often with family or friends. My wife, my oldest, and some friends often talk a lot and dominate a conversation. I can be happy to be there, adding bits here and there, but often being a bit on the outside.
I see lots of tech professionals at conferences or user groups comfortable with midding, being around other conversations, perhaps standing near others, but not a part of the conversation. But still involved, trying to learn or glean some insight from what others are talking about.
I think midding is a nice community feeling, and the data platform world, at least in the Microsoft space, has been very open here. We welcome others to hang out and learn or listen or just be entertained. I think that’s great.
I also think that at least some of the time you need to leave behind the midding and actively engage in the gathering.
From the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows