Is Festivus happening?
- Aaron's Rod
- Sec. of Cursed Images, Chicago SJW Cabal
- Posts: 851
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:29 pm
Is Festivus happening?
It is a time-honored quizbowl tradition to read packets on Festivus, December 23rd. This year, that is a Sunday, so it's unusually convenient for those of us who work full-time. Usually a post about Festivus is made sometime in November(!), so I was wondering whether it's happening this year.
There is usually someone who does some sort of central organizing. As far as I know, that mostly consists of enforcing loose rules to keep the pace going quickly, maintaining a set packet order that is subject to reasonable requests, and announcing which packet is next. This is a labor of love, but not at all one that requires special skills. I would very much not like to be that person, but it may be possible that with maybe only a Google Doc or two (which I'd be happy to throw together), it could be done collectively.
I'd like to know:
1. Do people have packets that could be read on Festivus?
2a. Is anyone (or some combination of people tag-teaming) interested in running Festivus?
2b. If not, could Festivus be run with minimal central planning, or is this bound to lead to big delays?
There is usually someone who does some sort of central organizing. As far as I know, that mostly consists of enforcing loose rules to keep the pace going quickly, maintaining a set packet order that is subject to reasonable requests, and announcing which packet is next. This is a labor of love, but not at all one that requires special skills. I would very much not like to be that person, but it may be possible that with maybe only a Google Doc or two (which I'd be happy to throw together), it could be done collectively.
I'd like to know:
1. Do people have packets that could be read on Festivus?
2a. Is anyone (or some combination of people tag-teaming) interested in running Festivus?
2b. If not, could Festivus be run with minimal central planning, or is this bound to lead to big delays?
Alex D.
ACF
http://tinyurl.com/qbmisconduct
"You operate at a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than most human beings." —Victor Prieto
ACF
http://tinyurl.com/qbmisconduct
"You operate at a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than most human beings." —Victor Prieto
Re: Is Festivus happening?
So, er, I do not wish to run Festivus. But basically, from my experiences:
-You do not so much need a central poobah to be there at all times, but you do need a fair share of central organizing. As Alex points out, at the very least signing up with what packet you have and in what order you wish to read them is a minimum.
-You do need what I'd call a "moderator" present during all the packets. The person reading the packet is usually (almost always) insufficiently enough to be a moderator. Basically the moderator moves things along--cuts off delays where people try and figure out what to do next, avoids complaints about "my answer was correct"/protests, and also just stops those quizbowl-esque things where people just babble about stuff.
-Above all, the moderators must have a good sense of balancing what I'd call "fun" with "efficiency." You don't need to be a dick and stop all jokes or speed through things, but you also have to do things like stop this discussion of what was the best Harry Potter novel after a few seconds or prevent 20 people from guessing at the end of a dead tossup.
-In rare instances, you must also stop actively disruptive people--the folks who repeatedly (!) neg during the same question and then blurt out the answer; the people who start spewing hostile/racist/angry drivel, etc. Unfortunately, a big group event like Festivus drags out the worst and the best in quizbowl.
So if nobody is planning on being there the whole time, you could have people sign up in blocks to be moderators.
-You do not so much need a central poobah to be there at all times, but you do need a fair share of central organizing. As Alex points out, at the very least signing up with what packet you have and in what order you wish to read them is a minimum.
-You do need what I'd call a "moderator" present during all the packets. The person reading the packet is usually (almost always) insufficiently enough to be a moderator. Basically the moderator moves things along--cuts off delays where people try and figure out what to do next, avoids complaints about "my answer was correct"/protests, and also just stops those quizbowl-esque things where people just babble about stuff.
-Above all, the moderators must have a good sense of balancing what I'd call "fun" with "efficiency." You don't need to be a dick and stop all jokes or speed through things, but you also have to do things like stop this discussion of what was the best Harry Potter novel after a few seconds or prevent 20 people from guessing at the end of a dead tossup.
-In rare instances, you must also stop actively disruptive people--the folks who repeatedly (!) neg during the same question and then blurt out the answer; the people who start spewing hostile/racist/angry drivel, etc. Unfortunately, a big group event like Festivus drags out the worst and the best in quizbowl.
So if nobody is planning on being there the whole time, you could have people sign up in blocks to be moderators.
Mike Cheyne
Formerly U of Minnesota
"You killed HSAPQ"--Matt Bollinger
Formerly U of Minnesota
"You killed HSAPQ"--Matt Bollinger
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- Tidus
- Posts: 546
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 12:24 am
Re: Is Festivus happening?
If this happens, I can definitely read a short packet consisting of RAPTURE rejects / ideas I had after it was over / funny things that deserve their time in the spotlight.
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- Rikku
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:02 pm
- Location: New Haven, CT
- Contact:
Re: Is Festivus happening?
I'll probably have a half packet of of weird mashups and other miscellaneous oddities.
EDIT: I'm also willing to step up to moderate.
EDIT: I'm also willing to step up to moderate.
Matt
Re: Is Festivus happening?
I'll likely have a packet about fictional vehicles ready if Festivus happens.
Aakash
SOUNDTRACK, 2018
SOUNDTRACK, 2018
Re: Is Festivus happening?
I have about 30-50 TUs on various wacky topics I can read at this.
Taylor Harvey (he/him)
ACF
University of Florida B.S. Nuclear Engineering '17
University of Florida Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering '21
2021 ACF Nationals Champion
ACF
University of Florida B.S. Nuclear Engineering '17
University of Florida Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering '21
2021 ACF Nationals Champion
Re: Is Festivus happening?
I likely will be unavailable for most of Festivus itself, but if there's any logistical work I can do to help out ahead of time, please let me know.
Fred Morlan
University of Kentucky CoP, 2017
International Quiz Bowl Tournaments, CEO, co-owner
former PACE member, president, etc.
former hsqbrank manager, former NAQT writer & subject editor, former hsqb Administrator/Chief Administrator
University of Kentucky CoP, 2017
International Quiz Bowl Tournaments, CEO, co-owner
former PACE member, president, etc.
former hsqbrank manager, former NAQT writer & subject editor, former hsqb Administrator/Chief Administrator
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- Wakka
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Wed May 15, 2013 7:50 pm
Re: Is Festivus happening?
If this ends up happening, I have a sports in media packet (sports in tv, movies, and videogames) that's roughly 25-30 tossups that I can read. If it doesn't happen, I'll still read this in discord at some point.
Ryan Humphrey
UT Austin (Cell & Developmental PhD Program, 2018-?)
Duke University (Biology and History, Class of 2018)
George Washington High School (Charleston, WV, Class of 2014)
Former PACE Member (2017-2019)
UT Austin (Cell & Developmental PhD Program, 2018-?)
Duke University (Biology and History, Class of 2018)
George Washington High School (Charleston, WV, Class of 2014)
Former PACE Member (2017-2019)
Re: Is Festivus happening?
I have 20-tossup packet of 'Literary Elements' I'm up for reading, probably around Regs difficulty.
Joseph Krol
Cambridge 2016-22
Cambridge 2016-22
Re: Is Festivus happening?
So is this happening? I sadly don't have a packet but I'll definitely play; the packets announced so far all sound fun.
Steven Silverman
Unionville High School '13
Carnegie Mellon University '17
Unionville High School '13
Carnegie Mellon University '17
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- Rikku
- Posts: 376
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- 1992 in spaceflight
- Auron
- Posts: 1615
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Re: Is Festivus happening?
If you'd like to read your packet, please sign up on this form as soon as you can. Thanks!
Jacob O'Rourke
Washington (MO) HS Assistant Coach (2014-Present); MOQBA Secretary (2015-Present)
Formerly: AQBL Administrator (2020-2023); HSAPQ Host Contact; NASAT Outreach Coordinator (2016 and 2017); Kirksville HS Assistant Coach (2012-2014); Truman State '14; and Pacific High (MO) '10
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Washington (MO) HS Assistant Coach (2014-Present); MOQBA Secretary (2015-Present)
Formerly: AQBL Administrator (2020-2023); HSAPQ Host Contact; NASAT Outreach Coordinator (2016 and 2017); Kirksville HS Assistant Coach (2012-2014); Truman State '14; and Pacific High (MO) '10
Like MOQBA on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!