"if someone has a proposal that is worthy of presentation, they should be given the opportunity to present -- regardless of their age or experience"
At the same time, it sounds like they had many, many submissions that were worthy of presentation, and this was a bigger conference. There are smaller conferences which are not as inundated with presentations to which newer speakers can apply, and from there apply to the bigger ones.
It's just like everything else in life, where you have to prove yourself on a smaller scale before being allowed on bigger things.
Sorry if my wording was confusing: I mean that they should pick the most qualified based on the proposal -- not that they should expand the scope of the conference to accommodate every plausible submission.
As an aside, I do not understand why my comment is being voted down; is a double blind review process that controversial?!
At the same time, it sounds like they had many, many submissions that were worthy of presentation, and this was a bigger conference. There are smaller conferences which are not as inundated with presentations to which newer speakers can apply, and from there apply to the bigger ones.
It's just like everything else in life, where you have to prove yourself on a smaller scale before being allowed on bigger things.