take a shot whenever someone says ‘this is more of a comment than a question’

At Bwog, we do our best to bring you the best events Columbia has to offer each week. But no matter how many fantastic speakers and diverse topics are presented on campus, all academic events share the same fundamental elements. Luckily, we’ve used yet another college staple, the drinking game, to hopefully make the overly-long lecture and Q&A session worth it. (Disclaimer: Bwog does not condone underage drinking; please drink responsibly!)

Sip your drink:

• Every time the speaker mentions a theorist/concept that literally no one else has ever heard of
• The speaker starts with a weak joke or “funny” “anecdote”
  • Take two if that anecdote involves: another conference/talk, their spouse, their children
• The speaker makes an actually funny joke
• Someone asking a question is a colleague of the speaker; in-jokes or awkward references to conference occur
• The speaker mentions a book they wrote
• Someone sucks up to the speaker
• Someone tries to impress everyone else with their knowledge of the topic
• A wave of people leaves before the event is over
• “How about we let the students ask questions first?” followed by absolute crickets
• Every time someone coughs really loud in a silent moment
• The speaker is considered a “superstar” in their very niche field
• You are the only undergrad in the audience
• Someone says “zeitgeist”
• “Movie screening, followed by a talk with the director”
• Pizza is served

Take a shot:

• Event name contains a colon
• Someone asks a speaker to talk louder
• Mike/other tech issues
• “This is more a comment”
• Someone asks “a two-pronged question”
• (for events with multiple speakers only) the “big name” speaker, or at least one of the “big draws” of the event, cancels at the last minute
• Poorly designed PowerPoint
  • Double if PowerPoint in question contains comic sans
• A speaker acknowledges their past work with a co-panelist
• Someone asks the speaker a question that’s really controversial/inflammatory and has absolutely nothing to do with the contents of the talk
  • Double if someone asks that inflammatory question with a quote from the speaker from a recent interview

Finish your drink:

• The speaker goes over time. Refill as needed until they finish.
• Event starts more than 10 minutes late.
• The speaker and a questioner get into an argument/actual fight, the moderator has to diffuse the tension and fails to do so adequately
• The crowd goes ooohhh and starts clapping that drowns out a question and the speaker has to awkwardly laugh before answering
• If they’re serving wine
• You have no idea what’s they’re talking about anymore

alcohol via Bwog Archives