How to Get This Group More Active

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

I was just at a kick-off speech meeting and it was awesome. Everyone is so excited about their pieces and events for next year!! Oh and Leah, my friend Lehua actually thought of The Aristocats as a duo she and my other friend could do, but I told her if she made it to nationals it would be awkward because then your duo would be there too...so they're doing Dora the Explorer.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Marie wrote: "I was just at a kick-off speech meeting and it was awesome. Everyone is so excited about their pieces and events for next year!! Oh and Leah, my friend Lehua actually thought of The Aristocats as a..."

Oh, my gosh, Marie, you're amazing! My cheeks literally hurt from smiling!!!!! :D Can't WAIT to see Dora as a Duo (a little optimism never hurt anyone :D)! And it's funny that you were just at a meeting because I saw my speech coach for the first time since June today! It was amazing! Although she's not a fan of my piece choice I don't believe...oh, well!

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

Yeah coaches can sometimes be doubting of you...all you have to do though is prove them wrong. Half the time my coach will doubt or disapprove of stuff, but we just have to always prove her wrong and kick butt! They're probably going to make the backpack a druggie...possibly.

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

That's really funny that you just saw your coach today too haha. Our meeting was from 2-5 today. =)

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Haha, yeah! The piece that she suggested is SO GREAT, but not necessarily for an HI. Definitely good for Storytelling, but not HI. I've been working on this piece all summer, so it IS going to a tournament! :D

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

(I'm going to take this conversation to "Chat Away" if you don't mind so we don't completely spam this topic.)

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

Leah wrote: "Haha, yeah! The piece that she suggested is SO GREAT, but not necessarily for an HI. Definitely good for Storytelling, but not HI. I've been working on this piece all summer, so it IS going to a..."

YAYAYAYAYAAY

[Maddison]

Maybe make this a private group (Let's face it all of us like debating with each other right now)

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

I hesitate to make it private. While we DO like debating each other, we also like new members, and if someone does something they shouldn't, we kick them out and block them.

[Danielle]

Hey,
My name is Danielle and I admit I am not a active member of Speaker Geeks but I would like to become one. I liked the idea that Som had about " What about stories?". I really like the idea of writing stories but maybe it could be like a more group oriented thing, such as one person writes a bit of a a story and another person picks it up from there. Just an idea. Thanks for letting me be a part of this group!
Danielle

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

Yeah I don't think private would be good...we want Speaker Geeks to feel free to join!!

[Evan]

Making it private would make it less open, therefore less people, this means less opinions and it eventually leads to less debates and so less active which is not what we want.

[Abigail]

Lia wrote: "A topic about riddles? this isn't one of my better ideas BUT I FRAKKING LOVE RIDDLES!

Caps lock for intense effect, lol."

Haha. I suck a riddles. I CAN NEVER GET THE ANSWERS *sobsob*

[Maddison]

H99 wrote: "Maddison wrote: "Maybe make this a private group (Let's face it all of us like debating with each other right now)"

We do like debating... but why make this private? I don't really want haters jo..."

We have a good dynamic and we don't want this group TOO big

[Abigail]

Haha yeah

[Shuhan [On Leave]]

Let's not make this private. Then it can't be a featured group.

[Billy]

Don't make it private. No offense to you guys, but its boring debating the same people on every topic.

[Mrs.Crazy (nico di angelo)]

I agree. Don't make it private. It's good to debate with different people, hear more opinions. Plus making the group private is not a good idea, especially when we are having a problem with inactivity. What's the point in making it private when no one is posting?!

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Lia wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Hey,
My name is Danielle and I admit I am not a active member of Speaker Geeks but I would like to become one. I liked the idea that Som had about " What about stories?". I really..."

Yep, will do ASAP!

[Jenn]

Danielle wrote: "Hey,
My name is Danielle and I admit I am not a active member of Speaker Geeks but I would like to become one. I liked the idea that Som had about " What about stories?". I really like the idea of..."

We could so something like a choose-your-own-adventure book. The first person writes something, leaving a couple of options at the end. Person two picks one and it goes on.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

I LOVE those ideas, and I'd love to use them at some point, but at the moment, I think we need to focus a little more on debate. But when we're back on our feet, I will DEFINITELY take that into consideration!

[[deleted user]]

Lia wrote: "@Hanna I like it! Personally, I wouldn't mind talking about video game characters with a fellow gamer every now and then. Or maybe a Batman vs Superman for comic book lovers."

Thanks! And the Batman vs. Superman sounds fun also!!!

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Yay!!!! Absolutely! :D

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Not much, but a start. If we can bring them back with fun debates, maybe we can get them into deeper ones.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Yeah, it kind of stinks. I literally cannot think of anything else controversial or interesting to debate.

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

I really wouldn't worry about it guys. This group doesn't have to be active 24/7 and it's not really worth stressing about. People will keep posting as more people discover and re-discover the group. It will survive.

[Billy]

Marie wrote: "I really wouldn't worry about it guys. This group doesn't have to be active 24/7 and it's not really worth stressing about. People will keep posting as more people discover and re-discover the grou..."

Marie, the group has to be active 24/7, we have to get to 10,000 members before summer ends.

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

Nice sarcasm billy

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Billy wrote: "Marie wrote: "I really wouldn't worry about it guys. This group doesn't have to be active 24/7 and it's not really worth stressing about. People will keep posting as more people discover and re-di..."

Hey, we can hope! :D

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

H99 wrote: "Marie wrote: "I really wouldn't worry about it guys. This group doesn't have to be active 24/7 and it's not really worth stressing about. People will keep posting as more people discover and re-di..."

DON'T SPEAK IT!!!!!!!!!!

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

*slips off to the dark corners of Speaker Geeks to sob* (view spoiler)[FAILED!!! WE HAVE FAILED!!! OH, WOE IS ME! FAILED! (hide spoiler)]

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

(view spoiler)[Thank you! :D Good night! (hide spoiler)]

[Billy]

Poor H99 and Leah....how sad :(

But really, if we want more people to debate we need more topics. The problem with our topics right now is that well...most of them are very one sided. Rape is bad, there isn't much "debate" in that topic. Its dying, and to be honest nobody is making an progress to in that topic to keep it going. Lets just let it die.

What this group needs is some more niche debates, things that people deeply care...for example, sports like football, or even debates about video games. It happens on other sites all the time. See, all our debates don't have to be deep philosophical debates about whether a fetus has a soul and should get aborted...how much do people want to debate about that?

If somebody cares about sports...they care about sports. A debate is better when people genuine care and have an opinion about the subject. Example...Tim Tebow or Tom Brady for the Patriots this year? If a few people cared about the topic, the debate would be awesome. Not just people saying "ya I guess a agree with that...", which is what is happening on every thread in this group.

Other examples would be something like Android vs. iPhone....tech debates. People are die-hard fans of some things. We need more niche debates that have people debate....maybe about games, tv shows, characters, and stuff like that. People will then pass it on with friends if they see something that they like. Nobody is gonna say "Hey bro, the group SpeakerGeeks has an awesome debate about rape. Maybe you should join!"

A conversation could be "Hey Bro, the group SpeakerGeeks is debating about Mac vs PC right now. You should check it out because I know you are into that stuff"....this could actually happen.

Thats just my two cents on how to get the group back on track/more popular.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

You know, I've never thought about it that way, but that is an excellent thought. I think you're on to something, and, hey, anything's worth a try! :)

[Som]

Nice suggestions by Billy..Some fun, 'debatable' debates would be nice.. (:

I'm not at all fond of the debates about those homophobic, sexist, racist etc issues. Those are like debating about child molestation. What's the point really? Some close minded people go on being pathetic their whole lives; I don't see any reason to argue about their peculiar beliefs. I simply ignore those people in reality, as, we don't have time for judging their thoughts and actions, while telling them why they are wrong; don't think it'll make them alter their thought process even a bit either. (:

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

Billy wrote: "Poor H99 and Leah....how sad :(

But really, if we want more people to debate we need more topics. The problem with our topics right now is that well...most of them are very one sided. Rape is bad,..."

Good idea.

[Christine, I pop like bubble wrap.]

Yeah I'm not against trying to motivate people more, but I just think sometimes we have been stressing a little too much about it. But I agree we might need to do some work as far as revitalization goes.

[Victoria]

@ billy. I love your idea

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

I would be happy to judge if I can get someone to help me. I'd hate to leave you guys hanging again, and I'm not exactly sure what my schedule will be like for the next few weeks. I should be okay to judge, but I'd like to have someone that will help. (Hope that made sense...I'm tired. :D )

[Som]

more fun stuffs...riddles, funny poetry, word games, favorites etc threads (:

[Evan]

I can suggest we give free chicken wings, but that might prove difficult. So I guess we could try and scour the world for news articles that might produce some debate.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Not difficult at all. :)

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Or, since this is primarily a debate group, someone could post a topic (e.g. hairspray) and assign a side (pro or con), and the person below them has to argue that side. Then, they post a topic, assign a side, etc., etc. I don't know, I like your idea too..

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Yeah, it'd be interesting to see what people wrote.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

I know, it's so exciting!!!!!

[Maddison]

Lia wrote: "Um...hm...since the group's dying and all maybe a few suggestions; since a lot of us usually agree on most topics, why not assign someone to be a permanent Devil's Advocate, where they'd go against..."

I don't think book reads . WE ARE A DEBATE GROUP WE NEED TO OWN IT!!!!!!!!!!

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

Agreed

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

We are Speaker Geeks, and by golly, we will be different! :D (view spoiler)[bum ba dum bum bum bum bum! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddison]

There are some but most usually die. I think this is the longest running one on goodreads at the moment which hasn't died.

[Som]

Look at the bright side, if all else fails, this thread will certainly be more active...