Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Ricochet Passes for College Students
Great news! Ricochet is now offering full-time and part-time U.S. college students and graduate students who are eligible a complimentary Ricochet membership. They just need to have a valid student .edu email address. We’re calling these memberships “Ricochet Student Passes.” The idea behind them is simple: We want to onboard younger voices to the community, as they often offer fascinating perspectives on the big issues of the day. Please spread the word! And if you’d like more info, you’ll find it here.
Published in General
I like this idea. I think.
I discussed it with my daughter maybe 5 years ago. She was in high school at the time. She thought that free memberships for students had the potential to fundamentally change Ricochet into something closer to Instagram. She thought it was a terrible idea.
I understand her point. But I’m not so sure. I suspect that the Instagram crowd just wouldn’t be interested in a bunch of boring geriatrics like you people (not everyone is young and hip, like me).
I think it’s worth trying. I think it could be a positive move – perhaps a very positive move. And if we don’t like how it’s going, we can always drop it.
But if we do that, I won’t tell my daughter she was right, of course…
I think Instagram is a very important tool, especially when it comes to connecting with younger voices. Candidly, we are underutilizing it when it comes to marketing the overall brand. That’s on me, and we are in the process of improving that.
I am excited to see the voices we can hopefully bring in. I’m hoping we get some writers who write for student newspapers, or folks from the College Republicans.
I like it!
I don’t know if it’s good or wise etc, but I very much like the focus — it’s a good place to invest mental energy. The young will absorb much more than we even know we give off.
We might just have to shape up and behave after all. I’m assuming they will have an identifiable tier of membership (mandatory “Scholar” flair or sommat), which of course they can get rid of by paying up. I think that would help regulate (as in make regular) conversation.
Trite, but young folks are literally the future, and those in college are in a world of hazard. They are at risk of being co-opted by a powerful Marxist machine which has been honed at fed for decades specifically to brainwash and convert them.
So I like this idea. And if it doesn’t pan out, keep trying. THIS IS THE WAY.
Really appreciate your feedback! And agree, we are going to keep trying things around here, here to serve you ! :)
First: I really like the idea. I recommend promoting this post to the Main Feed so that it receives more attention.
Second: I’m curious why this idea didn’t show up for discussion in the Ricochetti in the Academy group (here) when it was first conceived? The group is generally inactive, but this might have generated a spark of relevance?
Regardless, I’ll check out how to direct my students toward signing up.
Very skeptical. The magic sauce that makes Ricochet work is that the membership fee filters out trolls and noisemakers. (Well, I’m here but … )
I would be dead interested to have a bunch of intelligent, thoughtful, honest, curious, polite, and hopefully funny college students here asking questions and providing insight into the current youthful mind.
But it seems at least possible that if you give away memberships, you are much more likely to open the door to the brutal troll machine than to attract the thoughtful ones.
And it would be tricky to get rid of the trolls, because it would look like we were inviting people in so long as they never be provocative and they agree with the dominant beliefs here. That would be bad.
Plus, it brings no fresh money into the coffers.
What if we establish a scholarship program? Willing members would put up the $$$ to fund a first year membership to deserving students; if they like us and the convo, they could scrape together the $40 for subsequent years (we’re too much fun for them to ever leave once they get a taste).
”Deserving” could be determined by maybe a questionnaire or something? Max is young and has a beard, maybe he could help design something, or have a better idea?
If this worked out, I would start by funding ten.
I think this is an excellent idea. I can’t commit to ten, but I’m in for at least one (maybe more).
I thought the same thing about the free trials. Any jerk can get one and troll until he’s kicked off . . .
Good point on the trials. One of the things that is different about this program is the verification process. People need to be active students, so we think that will help with keeping the “crazy trolls” away. :)
I like the idea on the scholarship program. Lets get this program up and running, and circle back on this. Great idea!
“At risk.” Heh.
So what would that mean? A bunch of 21 year old girls trying to become influencers by posting a bunch of bikini pictures? Terrible. I mean, I would probably keep my membership . . . you know, just for old times sake but . . . hey, maybe it’s worth a try, you never know . . .
I expect it to be short-lived, but I hope I’m wrong. Maybe advertise at Hillsdale.edu and see where it goes from there.
Great suggestion! We are in talks with Hillsdale on how we can collaborate on this initiative . Working with other student groups and organizations as well. Stay tuned!