"If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be 'meetings.'"

This quote by Dave Barry is a funny take on the ineffectiveness of conferences. He implies that meetings are the primary reason the mankind has not achieved its complete capacity. Conferences are frequently seen as a needed evil in the work environment, as they can be time consuming and unproductive. They can also provide frustration, as they can be used to talk about subjects that are not appropriate to the task at hand. By utilizing the word "meetings" to explain the reason that the mankind has actually not accomplished its full capacity, Dave Barry is highlighting the reality that meetings can be a major challenge to progress. He is likewise suggesting that if conferences were more effective and productive, the mankind might achieve more.