How it begins...(9 - Final)

Author: Adam Fok

Seems that the largest obstacle to prevent ppl joining the club is the requirement of "everyone has to give a talk at least once". Such fear is probably due to the worry that they cannot have a sound background about the topic they propose.

First is that we do not require the speaker has to be very familiar to the topic. I myself am not very familiar with those topics proposed (except ＜我為什麼這樣孤寒＞). The point is we provide you an opprotunity to speak in front of people, and facilitate intellectual exchange among us. I think this is the crucial skill for us to get prepared for the future's challenge. Second, in order to 'neutralize' Auknife's seem-to-be-very-formal topics I propose something more experience-based and daily-example-based topics so as to broaden the choice and reduce the "formality" of the topics. I think all of you should have something special during your life which you are proud of to present to the others, right? 

Frog wrote:

On the other hand, limiting each person to give at most 2 talks seems too stringent.

If we decided to have meetings weekly, and over 1~2 months, we will quickly exhaust auknife, sun0, Adam and Clare.

From MRC performance, auknife is undoubtedly among the best speaker out of us.

Our strategy is to set a good example ourselves, and raise it as an attraction to others, but as soon as everything runs smooth, we lost the best speakers.

Just cancel it.

I think we don't have to worry about that. If the speaker cannot hold the talk well we audiences are responsible to make it alive by throwing out more ideas. Bear in mind that this is not a seminar. This is a group discussion. The speaker bears the role of facilitator rather than "speaker". Also we cannot urge Auknife to be the frequent speaker since he is good; read his reasoning on the restriction about each person to give at most 2 talks.

If that really does not work then we can set a buffer period: People are allowed to attend the conference without proposing any topic. After 2 or 3 times as the people understand how the club runs they will know whether being the speaker is comfortable for them so they have to propose at least a topic in order to stay in the conference. (but I admit that it is difficult to enforce that so it is rather like 不成文規定) Again we do not mean to form a "small circle" not to let others in but I think as a participant he or she has to contribute sth. I do also believe that we are university students and we are willing to give such contribution. Auknife Helic Clare and I etc will do our best to make the conference attractive, thought-provoking and worth-attending.