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Intro

People who learn Street Epistemology eventually want to put it into practice. But going out in the street can be intimidating; it's obviously not for everyone. So how can we learn SE and at the same time get feedback from other aspiring epistemologists in order to improve our skills and use them in our everyday life to the greatest extent possible? Start a local SE club, of course! And that's exactly what we did in Moscow, Russia, in May 2017.

The following describes the set structure of our weekly meetings and the work that occurs behind the scenes, with the main intention of inspiring the birth of new SE learning clubs around the world. It goes without saying that our particular structure is not the only one possible and may very well not be the optimal one. And yet the one we have for the moment has gradually taken shape over the months, and it works pretty well for us and our visitors.

Part 1. The Meetings

Start by introducing ourselves

Of course, we don't do that if there are no newcomers present, but there almost always are. So we say our names and why we do SE in a couple of words. This should take less than a minute for each person.

Divide into groups

We divide into two or more groups, one of which is for people who are new to SE. An experienced member gives an introductory speech about SE to the newcomers, answers their questions, and maybe even offers to conduct a demonstration.

Specialized exercises

People already familiar with the method usually practice SE by conducting dialogues with each other or participating in exercises to improve a specific aspect of their SE skill. An experienced moderator is usually needed. Here are a few examples of possible exercises:

• Practice asking specific "How" questions, assuming we already know the belief of an interlocutor, their level of confidence, and their reasons for that.
• Responding to different interlocutor behavior. The moderator can adopt the interlocutor role, for example, being in a hurry, too emotional, talking too much, or frequently changing subjects.
• Deciding which topic to discuss when an interlocutor offers several potential topics for an SE dialogue.

At this point, usually about an hour later, we take our first break, and after that, we can mix the newcomers with everyone else.

Role-play SE dialogues

This is probably our main activity. We assign an epistemologist and an interlocutor, and we also assign at least one official observer of the talk—preferably one who knows SE rather well—to give feedback to the epistemologist after the dialogue. Many of the other attendees will also observe the interaction. We time the dialogue (usually no more than 10 minutes), the feedback, and the subsequent discussion (usually no more than another 5 minutes). After the dialogue, the following happens:

• The epistemologist attempts to pass The Ideological Turing Test, explaining in their own words what the interlocutor believes and why. The interlocutor provides feedback on the accuracy.
• The assigned observer gives feedback on content (e.g., the questions asked) and form (e.g., the epistemologist’s behavior, neutrality, and wording). Sometimes there are two observers to cover both aspects.
• All listeners freely discuss the dialogue for a few minutes.

Such feedback can be tremendously helpful in improving SE skills. Everyone can view the same dialogue from different angles and suggest better questions. Combining these insights can provide a significant boost for all participants.

We usually divide into mini-groups of 3–8 people for dialogues. Sometimes, larger groups work if most participants prefer to listen rather than actively engage. After the dialogues, which typically last about an hour, we take a second break.

Additional Activities

We usually do a second round of practice dialogues, and at the end, we give feedback about the meeting itself. We also have giveaway leaflets with helpful SE information and links. Here are some additional ideas for activities:

• Watch and discuss SE videos together.
• Brainstorm SE questions for real-life situations and dialogues.
• Discuss ways to promote SE further.

Part 2. Behind the Scenes

Space

It's important where your meetings take place. Not only does the location provide comfort, but it can also attract potential new participants. For example, we are hosted by the local LessWrong community in a pay-for-minute café that holds events for open-minded individuals. This setup aligns with our target audience and allows us to leave SE leaflets at the reception desk. Ensure there are separate rooms for practicing SE, depending on group size.

Announcements

Everyone interested should have a way to be notified about upcoming events. We use Facebook, VK (a Russian social network), and Telegram. Pre-registration is recommended if the number of participants may exceed venue capacity.

Regularity

Holding events at the same time and place regularly reduces the mental effort required to attend. We've been hosting weekly meetings at the same location for over a year now.

Feedback forms

Feedback is invaluable for improving events. We provide both paper and online forms for attendees to anonymously share their thoughts.

Post-releases

Share photos, videos, audio, ideas, and links from your events on social media to engage the community and document your progress.

Team

Having a team is crucial. We have about 10 enthusiasts contributing to SE development in various ways. Regular meetings help exchange ideas and maintain momentum.

Creating new content

Encourage team members to create original SE content, such as blog posts or videos. A dedicated website or social media page can help share insights and connect with the broader SE community.

Take care of your visitors

Note any important details during events, such as promised resources, feedback, or new ideas. Follow up with attendees to encourage them to return.

Write your checklists

Prepare checklists for different roles, such as event host or activity moderator, to ensure smooth operations and facilitate role substitution when needed.

Promotion

Promote your activities online (social media posts, videos, and community management) and offline (lectures and workshops) to attract more participants.

Conclusion

Don’t be intimidated by this extensive list of instructions. You don’t need to follow all of them to start your first local SE club. We began with only a few people and minimal knowledge of how to proceed. It has been a long process to develop the structure we now share, and we’re still refining it.

Go ahead and create your own local SE community! Together, we can make the world a better place. Our confidence level? Around 90%, and totally falsifiable, of course. But you get the idea.