(From Zvi Mowshowitz, leader of the New York group, and based on his experience)
Category 1: Discussions—The Base A: Less Wrong topics. Usually recent posts. Often big hits. B: Rationalist group planning and organization. Meta-topics. Dealing with group issues on occasion. C: Spreading Rationality. Discussion of various approaches. D: Contraband Topics. Discussion of things that I won’t include here, but you can guess. E: How To Do X, or how to do X well. Charity, meeting people, improving skills, relationships, etc.
Category 2: Presentations—Almost Always a Winner F: Sequences. Andrew Rettek did these for public meetups, went over well I think. G: Personal Projects: Variance, Geoff Anders’s Psychology. H: General Knowledge: CBT, Starting a Business, Basic Python. I: Advanced Rationality: Attempted once, successful despite poor execution. Should be explored more.
Category 3: Game Nights J: Proven Good Games: Illuminati, Poker, Citadels, 7 Wonders, Nomic. K: Advanced Games: Much demand for general gaming, but not really that rationalist. Proven winners in this group: Vegas Showdown, Power Struggle, Baltimore & Ohio, Tichu, Through the Ages. I can keep going, many good choices. AVOID: Settlers of Catan (personal opinion) and Fluxx (cause you can do better, honestly). U: Outside Games. Ultimate Frisbee is good.
Category 4: Other Celebrations L: Karaoke M: Baraccuda (bring something awesome you love) N: Contraband Activities (enough said) O: General Party In or Out / Pot Luck
Category 5: Special Guests P: Famous Rationalists! If you get Eliezer or Robin or Vassar, you need no other topic. Probably a few others who get there on their own as well, or any generally famous guest.
Category 6: Self-Improvement Q: Go out and do something to improve social skills. R: Discuss or map out goals and plans. Set goals. Can be combined with other tasks. S: Run experiments! For science! T: Study Hall. Also folds into discussion of self-improvement topics.
Ideas for rationalist meetup topics
(From Zvi Mowshowitz, leader of the New York group, and based on his experience)
Category 1: Discussions—The Base
A: Less Wrong topics. Usually recent posts. Often big hits.
B: Rationalist group planning and organization. Meta-topics. Dealing with group issues on occasion.
C: Spreading Rationality. Discussion of various approaches.
D: Contraband Topics. Discussion of things that I won’t include here, but you can guess.
E: How To Do X, or how to do X well. Charity, meeting people, improving skills, relationships, etc.
Category 2: Presentations—Almost Always a Winner
F: Sequences. Andrew Rettek did these for public meetups, went over well I think.
G: Personal Projects: Variance, Geoff Anders’s Psychology.
H: General Knowledge: CBT, Starting a Business, Basic Python.
I: Advanced Rationality: Attempted once, successful despite poor execution. Should be explored more.
Category 3: Game Nights
J: Proven Good Games: Illuminati, Poker, Citadels, 7 Wonders, Nomic.
K: Advanced Games: Much demand for general gaming, but not really that rationalist. Proven winners in this group: Vegas Showdown, Power Struggle, Baltimore & Ohio, Tichu, Through the Ages. I can keep going, many good choices. AVOID: Settlers of Catan (personal opinion) and Fluxx (cause you can do better, honestly).
U: Outside Games. Ultimate Frisbee is good.
Category 4: Other Celebrations
L: Karaoke
M: Baraccuda (bring something awesome you love)
N: Contraband Activities (enough said)
O: General Party In or Out / Pot Luck
Category 5: Special Guests
P: Famous Rationalists! If you get Eliezer or Robin or Vassar, you need no other topic. Probably a few others who get there on their own as well, or any generally famous guest.
Category 6: Self-Improvement
Q: Go out and do something to improve social skills.
R: Discuss or map out goals and plans. Set goals. Can be combined with other tasks.
S: Run experiments! For science!
T: Study Hall. Also folds into discussion of self-improvement topics.