GENIUS FORUMS

I have been considering making a club but I want to make it bigger than just one high school. I am a high school student and for sometime I've wanted to make a group that discusses and debates philosophy/theology. While that subject may not be so popular amongst the students I come to you guys who have probably already graduated high school and have a good idea of what you would put together to form a big group for younger people. Any ideas you feel you could contribute to helping get started a group like this would be appreciated.

Aaah, The art of pure thought! Sure brings back memories. This was back in the 60's, we were all philosophical master-de-baters, more so when we were doin a little sniff tango with the glue, yeah
those were some of my cleverest days...

So, tell me son, do you want to become as enlightened as I have?

I've got three sacred rules:

1)You must have a lubricated way to wonder what to ponder.

2)Your thoughts must be concise in order to achieve peak performance when practicing with strokes of genius.

3)Always, I cannot put more pressure on this. Always have a safety net, so that when you discover true pleasure of thought it will not catch you off gurd.

Inconclusion, healthy strokes of genius are most wonderful when one is enlightened and practices the simple things in life.

Aaah, The art of pure thought! Sure brings back memories. This was back in the 60's, we were all philosophical master-de-baters, more so when we were doin a little sniff tango with the glue, yeah
those were some of my cleverest days...

One would never have guessed.

So, tell me son, do you want to become as enlightened as I have?

I've got three sacred rules:

1)You must have a lubricated way to wonder what to ponder.

Hmm... to make the joke or not to make the joke... As much as I'd like to, I think I'll defer to public decency and go with go with "not."

2)Your thoughts must be concise in order to achieve peak performance when practicing with strokes of genius.

O RLY?

3)Always, I cannot put more pressure on this. Always have a safety net, so that when you discover true pleasure of thought it will not catch you off gurd.

Indeed. Nothing worse than being caught off gurd.

Inconclusion, healthy strokes of genius are most wonderful when one is enlightened and practices the simple things in life.

Well said. But I tend to think that healthy infarctions of peak hypertension are most dyspeptic when one is syphilitic and practices the pharmaceutical things in life.

Funny but, why are you being jerks about it?

We're jerks by nature. But seriously, what kind of advice are you looking for? I'm not sure how we can help without a more specific request.

Nice Unidian ~wasn't it a little funny, though?

I haven't slept for nearly 30 hrs, so my multitasking seems to blend together...lol

MindExpansion wrote: I haven't slept for nearly 30 hrs, so my multitasking seems to blend together...lol

Multitasking? I'd say mutilating. Why post when you're dog tired? Why try to think even, unless you are on a sinking ship?

Hey Doggy,

The trick to getting people to show up is letting them know when it is and giving them a reason to show. This means that you have to talk to absolutely everyone...break through cliques that may exist. Go to other high schools. Get to know people and when telling them about this, make them want to come.

Have snacks. Give them free things. Stimulate their minds.

The more people that show up, the more people will show up. So if you want to have a small group, they better be close friends otherwise it will most likely break apart. With a group of like 5 people, some will try to dominate the conversation and strut their intellects around. That will make others not want to go, and when there's no one else to show off to, the strutters will leave as well. So get a huge group.

Organize how the group will go. There needs to be a leader...can you do it? Can you stand in front of people and speak loudly and clearly, giving the group a direction? If not, then you need to find someone who is good at that.

People like to feel smart and like they're doing something worthwhile and good. Give them those feelings and they'll love to show up. They'll become addicted to showing up and they will end up making their lives revolve around it.

It shouldn't need be said that if you want a group from all of the different high schools, you need to advertise the group. Post tons of flyers. Get in the local newspaper. Advertise where people go, like the mall or cafes or whatever. Focus on people who would most likely be interested in this...art students. But try to get everyone to go..you never know where there will be a diamond in the rough. A person may just be shy and not discuss what they're thinking of, but going to your group may help them open that part of themselves up.

So you have to really hit everyone in your high school and the surrounding high schools. Become aquainted with them and try to reel them in.

Good luck.

Nice Unidian ~wasn't it a little funny, though?

I haven't slept for nearly 30 hrs, so my multitasking seems to blend together...lol

Yep, it was kinda funny. Don't take my jokes as mean-spirited. I've decided that I like you, anyway. Your writing skills are shit on a shingle, but your heart is in the right place. :)

I'd tell you not to stay up 30 hours in a row, but at age 17 I doubt it matters much. Enjoy being invulnerable while it lasts. One day soon you'll wake up and be in your 30's. It happened to me, and boy was I surprised.

Doggy -
I founded 2 clubs and was president of another in highschool, and was president of one through 4 years of college. In otherwords, I have a lot of experience but don't know what to tell you unless you want to ask something more specific.

I will tell you though that organizing on a school level is hard enough. The best thing to do to make a big organization is to make a little organization that is so awesome other people want to join.

Just think of a sweet name and everyone will want to join.

You must get a firm grip on a member and they shall come...and join you, my son.

No-brainer: Have a web site where you keep track of meeting places/dates. Plan some outings like going to hear authors speak and/or read. Get on the Web and find out what some college philosophy departments suggest as introductory reading, because you'll need some common grist for the mill. You could put out flyers in area high schools inviting interested students to visit your well-planned web page. Get a teacher you trust in your own school involved as sort of an advisor.

All great suggestions, but what would we do at the gatherings related to philosophy?

What kind of older teacher like supervisors/mediators would be a great addition?

And what would be the highlight of the group? Such as a field trip , popular guest speaker- or anything else?

Doggy wrote:All great suggestions, but what would we do at the gatherings related to philosophy?

What kind of older teacher like supervisors/mediators would be a great addition?

And what would be the highlight of the group? Such as a field trip , popular guest speaker- or anything else?

What is your target audience? People who already love philosophy or new people who want to learn? Are you looking for something like a book club or to have guest lecturers? Or to do something? These are questions you need to answer, because any combination of answers will direct your future thoughts on the subject... for example if you want to teach new people you might want to start with something relatively simple and build up. If you want to discuss with people at your own level, you might start with what you were reading 6 months ago.

If you have speakers you might ask them what they're talking about and do a bit of pre-work in the area.

As to what would be the highlight... that depends a lot on where you are and what's going on and what's obtainable.

When I lived in Atlanta, we all had bus passes and were downtown every day. Our big outing was to the woods in NC several hours away. Now that i'm in the middle of no where, our big event might be to go to Atlanta. In Colorado Springs (midsized city) we would go either to Denver or to the mountains. On the other hand, here, our spring break aligns with an international sword fighting event so our big outing for one of the groups is to go to that in Mississippi (and we dont even have to plan except for carpools!)

We did a similar thing to Arizona from Colorado, but there we were able to convince the school to give us grant money, which took quite a bit more organization but was worth $150 per person... such a thing isn't likely viable from a highschool, but ask around and look at the school publications.

Figure out what you want, but also figure out what is possible. And don't forget what is required - the school might require dues or forbid you from collecting any money, and is almost certain to require a faculty advisor. This advisor is probably the best way to get started since they likely have experience with starting groups and manipulating the school beurocrosphere.

It would probably help to recruit a faculty member and one or two friends to help you at this stage, but be prepared to wait at least a while you get all your details organized before you start opening up to other people.