There are many "international conferences" that seem predatory (with a high degree of certainty). They usually provide a space for you to talk about any general issue you consider worth mentioning. In short, it's pure punk. To some degree, this is really nice... For a relatively reasonable fee, you are able to speak about anything you wish. Yet, if they are regarded as predatory, you might risk leaving a mark on your research.
BUT, the thing is, what if you have to attend some of these conferences because of bureaucratic reasons? Reputable conferences you usually go to were cancelled for this year and your university requires you to attend at least 3 conferences a year, while no other reputable conferences remain.
- If you need to attend such conference, is sending just an abstract harmless, in the context of future publication possibilities?
- Do editors look at your abstract-publication (OR paper-publication) history in these conferences?
- If you wish to publish an abstract only, shall you make it the least comprehensible as possible such that it seems as a really niche topic? Or go with the generally generalized idea such that you do not say anything new or concrete at all?
Further questions:
If you have to send a paper, is it better to send bullshit paper that is completely irrelevant to anything you do or is it better for you to still send just negligible part of your work (approx. 0.01 %) that does not pose threat to self-plagiatorizing oneself in future?
If you can speak foreign language that almost no one speaks (as I do), is it better to publish a paper in your language if such conference allows it, almost guaranteeing no serious publisher would be able to read it?
What do other attendees get from these conferences? Do you risk someone trying to steal your work? Or do you risk no one being interested in what you want to say?
If you have the money and you just want to say few things to some people (OR to look around the world), where is actually the problem?