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TAM forum table project

Kochanski

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Kochanski
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Oct 8, 2005
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Ok kids, we want to put something at the forum table that shows people what the forum is about and we are trying to showcase the informational side of the forum but make it fun, because stuffy we ain't ;)

So, I am looking for serious suggestions on threads with info that people will find useful. Now, we can't print out reams of threads and such because that would just bore people to tears and send them away, but I am hoping that I will be able to extract some interesting bits and put something fun together for the table.

So, suggestions please. I know that Gravy and others have produced some great stuff on 9/11 and the Truthers, I am sure there is good stuff about homeopathy, psychics, cold reading and other stuff all over the forum. The forum is always great for an answer and a point in the right direction for a lot of us, so let us see if we can showcase that at the forum table.
 
I really think the SWOYMRN thread is a great example of the community aspect of the forums.
 
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How about a laptop with access to the forum on it? Someone could showcase the various parts, for those who are curious and don't have their own Internet device with them.

For print, you could collect a few choice posts to show off. Perhaps a buch of Language Award winners and nominees would be sufficient. Though, if you want to get "typical results" feel for it, just copy a bunch of somewhat-decent posts from a bunch of misc. threads, or something.
 
Oh I know threads are too long, it is not my intention to do full threads.

I want pointers to things that people think have found to be good, useful, interesting, colorful, basically good stuff to show to non-forum members to get them interested in the forum and let them know what the forum is about.

I have a couple of ideas for pulling things out of the threads to make something fun, I am hoping to put together a slide-something-or-other (I won't say Powerpoint because I won't use, it I want something more alive). I want to use some of my lovely graphics programs to make a clean, simple presentation of forum fun. I do want to include language and pith because I think those will interest people.

I don't want to print things, I really can't see people coming to our table to read printed stuff from threads from the forum. We are not trying to drive people away from the forum ;)
 
Wowbagger said:
How about a laptop with access to the forum on it? Someone could showcase the various parts, for those who are curious and don't have their own Internet device with them.
Click to expand...

Ever show someone an internet message board on your laptop? Yeah, that look in their eyes isn't interest... pity, ennui, desire to flee... but not interest. Give them a direct link to the forum front page, or to a specific thread... but showing them a message board isn't likely the best way to go...

Setup a thread with links to helpful and crazy discussions here, and with the help of a URL shortening service, make a nice friendly short link to print on cards that people can take as a reminder, and they can browse the forum on their over-priced room wifi at their leisure.
 
I vote for TLA as well.

You might want to add information on how many people actually manage to meet in real life because of the forums, too and all over the world. I've met people in Munich, London (several times, even), Washington DC and Las Vegas (outside of TAM, that is) and I hope I am not forgetting anybody with that.

A lot of people have projects running that they are occasionally discussing in these forums. (Wolfman, though i hear he's left here, Robert Lancaster, there's the scepchicks, the bad astronomer if i am not mistaken and i think i saw someone saying they were running the "what's the harm" site, too.

That the forum is also a great resource for all kind of specialist and/or bizarre knowledge isn't even the most important factor. (I am sure the Internet is littered with other places that have pilots and rocket scientists and doctors and soldiers and teachers and librarians and magicians and authors and poets and .... well, you get the point, and this time i know i am forgetting a great many people.)

oh yes, there's also the odd regular forum thread here and there, but those are all either attempted set-ups for language awards or different kinds of in-jokes, anyway.)
 
I do want to do something with pictures of gatherings of skeptics from the forum, we do gather at various places when we have the opportunity, so I will be going for photos of us, too.

There will be plenty of forum people at TAM volunteering at the event and I want to draw people's attention to that as well.

The whole idea is to get people to know who we are and that they are welcome to join us.
 
I think a collection of photographs is good also...

Maybe a printout with just the forum topic areas? So someone could look and go "oh wow, well I'd like to read about "paranormal" and "religion"...
 
Maybe also a list of forumites attending (from the roll call thread)?
 
That's a good idea, Adman! It would explain why we have the extra sticker on our name tags and give them a chance to start up a conversation with us to learn more.
 
How about information about forumites' projects: Kelly's Project Jason, Krelnick's What's the Harm?, RSL's radio shows and Stop Sylvia.

Li' dat.
 
Kochanski said:
Still looking for pics of forum members at TAM, on cruises at various skeptical gatherings, so if you have any please let me know.
Click to expand...

There was the photo taken last year of some forum members holding up the sign wishing all the best to Nobby Nobbs. I think Paperskater may have that (she organised it).
 
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