Basically I'm of the opinion that if there's nothing there that interests you, start your own club. I hated all the stuff on my campus, so we got a group together to start a Smash Bros club, and then the people that I'd get along with came to me, as opposed to me having to find them, which was nice. Might go to a Role-Playing club, buuuuuuut... If you could start a club, would there be one you'd want to do in particular?
_refugee_'s totally biased completely anecdotal input here: if the RPG club is a LARPing club, turn your back and walk away now. I would say what are your interests veen? I was in the LGBT club, Video Game club, French club (basically only when they served food), literary magazine (on and off). Definitely did the most/got the most out of the LGBT club but that is going to depend on your own mileage and preferences. Oh also I did LARPing but seriously, don't. (The LARPers I knew were a lazy, greasy, manipulative, in-bred unhealthy clusterfuck of people sponging off the university system every way they'd figured out how during their 8-10 years of college.)
There are a couple of rules I employ when walking around the stands with all the clubs. One of 'em is that by definition, the people standing there are probably the best / most social of the club, so if they're weird than the rest of the club is probably even worse. I don't think there is a LARP club, but they'd probably fail this test. The brony club sure as hell did. As I said in my reply to 8bit (which was exactly at the same time as yours), I just want to either do something fun (sports, hobbies) or just have people to hang out with. I might join the foodies club, as I always like good food and it's a great way to get to know people.
I would judge by their ages, weights, and hygiene. AKA the group I caught up with consisted of people often 5-15 years, sometimes more, older than a "regular" college student, some of whom had been in college for 10 years and some of whom were just still hangin' around cuz their friends were. This next point is judgmental, yes, but if a large proportion of the group is significantly overweight, that's an indication of the group's habits as a whole, which means inactivity and poor eating habits. One person who's obese/overweight in their 20s in a social group isn't an indicator of the group, but 5-10 people? That's a trend outside the norm. Hygiene. Hair, teeth, body odor. Lots of members with greasy hair? Worrisome. Lots of people with bad teeth? Worrisome. Body odor? Get da fuq out. Age is the biggest indicator in my opinion. When you have 50 year olds hanging out at university "clubs" with lots of dudes in their late twenties and really only a handful or two of 18-21 year olds there's an indicator that something's not right. We're all misfits but if you have been in college for 10 years and completely disregard your health you are a special kind of misfit. When people get judged for LARPing, or D&D, or tabletops, it's not because they're LARPing, or playing D&D, or tabletops or iGames. It's because of the people who are associated with doing those things. If these people seem like legitimate college students who are generally somewhat put together and not hideous (like, zits and glasses are okay here - what I described above is not), but maybe a little socially awkward, go for it. I think veen makes a really good point. I was always hauled out to rep LARP at activity nights. I was young, cute, impressionable, concerned with being "nice," and insecure. I was a perfect naive person to draw into the club - because I didn't want to judge people based on their appearance! because who cares if people are a little offbeat, that's judgmental! because I was insecure and unmoored - and I also was a good "public representative" that made the club look both legit, and like it had cute girls in it. (Note: Basically all the "cute" girls had massive issues of some kind.) I don't think you'll fall for this trap, but basically, surround yourself with the best, most intelligent, most successful, and yes, most healthy and/or attractive people you can - not the people that are "just as good as everyone else" and "can you please stop judging my friends mom, just because they look weird doesn't mean they're not nice people."
Hubski club? I'm just looking for people to do things with. If possible a group where I can have nice discussions. My evenings and weekends are currently rather empty, and even though I'm doing 5 courses, I don't think it'll be that much work in the end that I can't join a club or two.If you could start a club, would there be one you'd want to do in particular?
Board game club. Attracts a certain type (in my experience: bookish, just the right kind of geeky, patient, willing to take things slow). And besides being engaging in their own right, board games 1) force the players into drawn-out interactions, thereby increasing the chance of getting to know your club members; and 2) allow (for the most part) the players to take the experience at their own pace with plenty of breathing room for conversation, study breaks, etc. Also, most board games can be retro-fitted into drinking games, if you're into that sort of thing. Love me some board games.
Good one. I was looking at the clubs' stands this afternoon and after talking to the Outdoors club one of their members invited me to a small board game club. Back home I often play board games with a group of friends, it's almost always a good way to spend time.
Was considering it, but I have plenty to read for my classes already. I've talked to some clubs, but I'm gonna try the Outdoors club and the radio station first to see if that works. I also found a small board game club. Might talk to the Foodie club too, but I think I won't have any free time left that way...
It really depends on the debate club - I don't like the ones that are focused around competition. Did a debate course last year and what I found inherently irritating is the fact that discussions weren't about finding the best truth, but rather at finding the most convincing truth. It's almost like marketing. Don't get me wrong, I learned quite a lot from it, but it's not my type of discussion.