The ISF Table of Scientific Curiosities - At CSCICON 2022

[Wowbagger]

Greetings,
This year at CSICON 2022, I intend to host a Table of Scientific Curiosities. One of the few goals of this is to promote this very site, The International Skeptics Forum*!

I am currently collaborating with Ray Hall (who went by "cosmic" on this forum, but he doesn't post much), a fellow science toy collector.

Those of you who were at the final TAM know that Jeff Wagg hosted a similar table, in part, to promote his skeptical travel company.


So, I figured this was worthy of its own thread. We can keep the other CSICON thread open for other, more CSICON-specific stuff.

Of course, we can discuss the "curiosities" I plan to display on the table. But, the first order of business is to get some feedback on the marketing!

I am in the midst of re-working the old flyer I had once designed for this place. I should have a draft of that ready, soon.

For now, I have attached, below, the first draft of the banner I plan to place in front of the table. It is very plain-looking right now. If anyone has any ideas to spruce it up, let me know!




(*Figured I would name it, just in case you're reading this outside of the site.)

[Wowbagger]

Since posting this last month, I have made some progress on the marketing materials. But, not as much as I would have liked. Hopefully next weekend I can post the drafts. It would only be a mere week and a half until the conference at that point.

[arthwollipot]

Of course, you do realise that your mission is to cause a spike in memberships during and after the conference, right?

[Wowbagger]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

Of course, you do realise that your mission is to cause a spike in memberships during and after the conference, right?

I hope I can do that, yes.

[Wowbagger]

The DRAFT copy of the flyer is below. I plan to print two pages per side (page 1 and 4 on one side of the paper, 2 and 3 on the other), and the sheet will be folded in half.

[arthwollipot]

I'm not sure I'd draw too much attention to the "Fully searchable posting history"

[Wowbagger]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

I'm not sure I'd draw too much attention to the "Fully searchable posting history"

Are you afraid too many of the posts will be embarrassing to new members?

Or, do you fear the vBulletin search system kinda sucks?

If it's the former, I wouldn't worry about it. It shows camaraderie or something.

If it's the later, the Google Search actually works pretty well.

[arthwollipot]

Yeah I was referring to the fact that the search function actually sucks.

[Wowbagger]

I will put in a note that Google works better than the built in stuff. The point is the fullness of the archive (minus the Lisa incident) that has existed since the dawn of the site.

[Wowbagger]

Attached is the new Daft!

On page one I got rid of the "prove it" line. It felt a little pompous with this design. (Though, I think it fit better with the previous 2019 edition.)

One page two, there is a small layout change. I placed the Venn diagram higher up on the page.

For page three, I replaced "searchable" with "archived".

A small amount of other wording changes were made, in a few places, as well.

On the back, I largely rewrote the "Correlation Does Not Equal Causation" section.

[arthwollipot]

Looks good to me.

[Wowbagger]

Appreciate the review. A few minor tweaks, and I shall print it this weekend.

[Chanakya]

Great work you're doing there, Wowbagger.

Not much --- scratch that, nothing at all! --- to actually contribute, in terms of suggestions, to this thing here, but I vote that we name the man St. Wowbagger, in recognition of all of the thought, and work as well, that he's putting in there. Also that'll cover it if they don't like his flier, flyer, whatever, and kill him and eat him up or something.



eta: To be honest, I'd been too lazy to even read the thing properly before shooting off that comment. Now that I have (because I felt guilty at not having done even that much when here you are doing all of this by your own self!), I have two minor incidental comments:

(a) Why go out of your way to mention the vBulletin thing? (Not suggesting you scratch that; just wondering why, like I said, one would go out of one's way, and use up space and ink, to draw attention to it.)

(b) You didn't touch on religion. Skepticism about religion, I mean to say. Was that deliberate? (That is, I guess one would infer that from what you say; and again, I'm not necessarily suggesting that you actually do mention it specifically; but given that you do mention certain specifics like dodgy alternate medicines, and Bigfoot and Loch Ness etc, that sort of thing, I was wondering if your omission of this specific, religion I mean to say, was deliberate, maybe in order to not alienate people who might be religious but otherwise rational/skeptical?)

[Lothian]

TLR

The flyer that is.
Perhaps 6 positive bullet points. No one wants the read it is built on clucky software.
Stick on a QR code or two that link to interesting threads and then another to the registration page
Fit that on one side of an A5 sheet with something interesting on the back that will make them keep it e.g Baby Yoda origami instructions

[Wowbagger]

Originally Posted by Chanakya

I vote that we name the man St. Wowbagger, in recognition of all of the thought, and work as well, that he's putting in there. Also that'll cover it if they don't like his flier, flyer, whatever, and kill him and eat him up or something.

Nah, I don't need sainthood. And, besides, I am immortal: No one can kill me and eat me up.

Originally Posted by Chanakya

Why go out of your way to mention the vBulletin thing?

Manage expectations and to show that we take an interest in full disclosure of pros and cons, risks and rewards, etc.

Kickstarter campaigns are required to disclose risks. Flyers are NOT required to disclose the foibles of what they are selling. But, we like to do so, anyway. Because that's the rugged type of people we are!

Although, I did add a bit to say "At least it works well."

Originally Posted by Chanakya

You didn't touch on religion. Skepticism about religion, I mean to say. Was that deliberate?
....
maybe in order to not alienate people who might be religious but otherwise rational/skeptical?

That is the primary reason. We are NOT an atheist-only organization.

Originally Posted by Lothian

TLR

The flyer that is.

The front page of the flyer is the TL : DR version. Reading everything else is optional. Especially the back page. The back page is really just bonus content, for people who want something to read.

Originally Posted by Lothian

No one wants the read it is built on clucky software.

But then they visit the site and go "vBulletin?! What is this, the early 2000's?! No thank you!" By being upfront about it, people might be more willing to accept it.

But, I did add a bit to say "At least it works well." to the end of that, so it's not seen as 'clunky', just old-fashioned.

Originally Posted by Lothian

Stick on a QR code or two that link to interesting threads and then another to the registration page

I do like the idea of linking to specific, interesting threads. But, given that I am printing this soon, I don't think I have time to start sorting through them and picking them out.

I will have the Forums shown on a laptop at my booth ("The ISF Table of Scientific Curiosities"), so I can show people some of the interesting threads in person.

I feel like a link directly to the registration page might come off as pushy. Let them look at the site, first. There is a Register link at the top. (Although, it might be nice to add one near the sign in section.)

[Wowbagger]

I wanted to attach the flyer as a PDF or a ZIP of a PDF, but the file size is currently too large for this forum, either way. So, here are some images of the document, for now. I will figure out how to shrink it later.

[Chanakya]

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

Nah, I don't need sainthood. And, besides, I am immortal: No one can kill me and eat me up.


Manage expectations and to show that we take an interest in full disclosure of pros and cons, risks and rewards, etc.

Kickstarter campaigns are required to disclose risks. Flyers are NOT required to disclose the foibles of what they are selling. But, we like to do so, anyway. Because that's the rugged type of people we are!

Although, I did add a bit to say "At least it works well."

That is the primary reason. We are NOT an atheist-only organization.


The front page of the flyer is the TL : DR version. Reading everything else is optional. Especially the back page. The back page is really just bonus content, for people who want something to read.


But then they visit the site and go "vBulletin?! What is this, the early 2000's?! No thank you!" By being upfront about it, people might be more willing to accept it.

But, I did add a bit to say "At least it works well." to the end of that, so it's not seen as 'clunky', just old-fashioned.

I do like the idea of linking to specific, interesting threads. But, given that I am printing this soon, I don't think I have time to start sorting through them and picking them out.

I will have the Forums shown on a laptop at my booth ("The ISF Table of Scientific Curiosities"), so I can show people some of the interesting threads in person.

I feel like a link directly to the registration page might come off as pushy. Let them look at the site, first. There is a Register link at the top. (Although, it might be nice to add one near the sign in section.)

Re. the portion from your post I've highlighted and boldfonted:

This isn't necessarily to get you to change your flier/flyer, I mean by all means keep that part in, it's cool: but thinking over that part of it, well, sure, this place is for everybody that wants whatever part of it resonates with them, sure, and to that extent this place isn't necessarily atheist-only, sure. But wouldn't the same go for Bigfooters? And Flatearthers? And 9/11 deniers? And climate deniers? And LochNessers? And homeopathy-enthusiasts? If it is fine to be a theist, while otherwise being rational, then why isn't it fine to be a homeopath enthusiast, but rational as far as the rest of all of it? Or to be a flat-earther, but otherwise rational as far as everything else?

I mean, okay, flat earth is a bit much, but I'd imagine Bigfoot is no less likely than the whole Jesus deal, is it? Probably more likely, if anything.

Like I said, I get where you're coming from, you're trying to get the dudes and dudettes in here, which is all great; and like I said, this isn't about the flyer per se, more like thinking aloud; but I have to ask, if this place isn't necessarily athesit-only, then why is this place necessarly a-bigfoot-ist only, and why is this place necessarily a-homeopathy-ist only?




eta: TLDR: Why, in other words, this bending over backwards to accommodate that one single exception, that one single demographic of loons, while keeping out the other kinds of loons? Is it just the numbers? (I can see the logic to the numbers-argument, without necessarily agreeing with the conclusion drawn, but agreeing with the issue engaged with by raising that argument --- if indeed you do raise the numbers argument as the reason for this exceptionalism.)

[arthwollipot]

Originally Posted by Chanakya

Not much --- scratch that, nothing at all! --- to actually contribute, in terms of suggestions, to this thing here, but I vote that we name the man St. Wowbagger, in recognition of all of the thought, and work as well, that he's putting in there.

I'd agree, but he once called me a great stinking pile of rotten haddock.

[Chanakya]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

I'd agree, but he once called me a great stinking pile of rotten haddock.

Why, shouldn't saints talk about fish?

Tell you what, we can mix and match customs, so you get to tap him with one of those swords of yours, when we call him that. You'd like that, right?

[Wowbagger]

I have roughly 45 or so items to put onto the table. I don't know how many things Ray is bringing, but I am sure we will have plenty!

The table will be set up around the afternoon of Wednesday. I will have photos to share as that transpires!

Originally Posted by Chanakya

Why, in other words, this bending over backwards to accommodate that one single exception, that one single demographic of loons, while keeping out the other kinds of loons? Is it just the numbers?

I think that, for the purposes of this flyer, we don't need to mention religion at all, within it.

But, if anyone asks, we can talk about it, plenty.

[Chanakya]

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

I have roughly 45 or so items to put onto the table. I don't know how many things Ray is bringing, but I am sure we will have plenty!

The table will be set up around the afternoon of Wednesday. I will have photos to share as that transpires!


I think that, for the purposes of this flyer, we don't need to mention religion at all, within it.

But, if anyone asks, we can talk about it, plenty.

Fair enough, Wowbagger. Like I said, I was thinking aloud, and not commenting on your flyer content necessarily. Time and effort are limited, and aiming for like 100℅ precision in one's phrasing, and completely unassailable consistency in what one conveys, isn't necessarily cost-effective, or reasonable.

Good luck with your flying.

[Darat]

Wow Wowbagger.

Sorry I'd missed this thread somehow.

[Darat]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

I'd agree, but he once called me a great stinking pile of rotten haddock.

Harsh, but fair.

[Darat]

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

I wanted to attach the flyer as a PDF or a ZIP of a PDF, but the file size is currently too large for this forum, either way. So, here are some images of the document, for now. I will figure out how to shrink it later.

Is it too late to suggest something?

ETA: Whoops of course it is.

Really sorry I didn't help you out at all Wowbagger.

[Wowbagger]

Originally Posted by Darat

Is it too late to suggest something?

ETA: Whoops of course it is.

Really sorry I didn't help you out at all Wowbagger.

There will be future versions of this table and the flyer. Any suggestions you have will be considered for it.

[Wowbagger]

Here are some photos. The table with its signs on the front, and most of its stuff on top; me with co-host Ray Hall; and one of the free give aways I was giving away: A fortune telling fish with an extra bit of paper explaining how it actually works.

[Wowbagger]

Gave out more than 100 flyers and even more Fortune Telling Fish (which also have a shout out to the Forums in them. ) So, now we'll see what kind of bump we get...

[arthwollipot]

Did you get many people expressing interest in the forum?

[Wowbagger]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

Did you get many people expressing interest in the forum?

I got a bunch, actually. Some of them knew of the original JREF version, and hadn't seen it in years. A few new folks seemed interested in looking into it.

[arthwollipot]

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

I got a bunch, actually. Some of them knew of the original JREF version, and hadn't seen it in years. A few new folks seemed interested in looking into it.

Cool! Hopefully we'll see a few of them in the Welcome thread.