I am incredibly impressed to hear of new Skeptics in Pub groups springing up all over the place. For a full list of all the Skeptical groups all over the world, check here. If you live somewhere that isn’t close to any of these, and there’s a demand, why not set up your own one? It’s really easy, and you can get tons of support very quickly by joining Twitter and sending a message along the lines of:
“I’m thinking of setting up a #SITP in [your gaffe], any ideas of how to start?”
The # symbol is a simple way of identifying a topic that a lot of people are talking about, enabling you to join a conversation. Programs like Tweetdeck enable you to set up an entire column for a discussion topic under a hashtag (#). Someone, perhaps a complete stranger will see it and reply straight away. It’s great.
The basic things you need to start your own SITP are:
- A pub
- Some skeptics or like minded people
Getting a speaker is always fun, and you need to consider things like setting up microphones and amplifiers, maybe a projection screen if they’re doing a presentation via a laptop, and you will need permission from the pub.
Depending on the size of your group, it is always advisable to book the pub in advance. Another event that I co-run (Reclaim The Pub) is small enough that we don’t book an entire pub, just a couple of tables is usually enough. We don’t have speakers yet, it’s just a comfortable space for us to meet up and discuss things that are important to us. Ladies Who Do Skepticism is a similar affair.
I’m not sure it’s a good idea to look at Skeptics in the Pub as a movement. We’re not a political group, or lobby, or sometimes even organised. We’re a bunch of nerds in a pub who have a wide range of interests. If that sounds like your bag, then get thine posterior to your next local event.
Cx
