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Help Me Pitch Ricochet
Many of us are quick to tell friends about a great book, movie, or restaurant we’ve discovered. So it is with Ricochet. I want others of the center-right persuasion to experience the awesomeness of this site. So, I’ve made the sales pitch for Ricochet to five people in my area and either gave them a Ricochet business card, or followed up with an e-mail with a link to Ricochet. To the best of my knowledge, none of them have even looked at the site (to their loss).
I may have convinced a cousin to sign up for The Daily Shot. I’ve got one friend who I thought would love Ricochet, so I bought him a one-year membership. Unfortunately, this was just before the conversion to Ricochet 2.0 and Max’s hiring, so the site wasn’t working properly. I couldn’t even get him to come to the Fargo Ricochet Meetup, and he lives closer than every member (except me) who did come. I always tell people about the free content — Main Feed, The Daily Shot, the podcasts — hoping that they will check out that stuff and eventually decide to join, but I don’t think anybody even looks at the site.
I am obviously a terrible salesman for Ricochet. So I want to hear from those of you who have talked somebody into joining. How did you do it?
[Editors’ Note: Do you know someone who craves intelligent, civil conversation with fellow members of the center-right? Ricochet is the place for it. As Randy mentioned, you can give a Coolidge-Level membership as a gift to whomever you choose. And yes, Randy will get credit for the assist.]
Published in General
Strictly by accident.
I tried, but the friend I tried to convince felt the site was too intellectual/high brow for him.
I’ve been talking about Ricochet for 5 years. I have 2 Ricochet shirts. No dice.
I think people that were around when there was no internet still find the idea of talking to people online weird and off putting.
Of course there’s the slightly cultish aspect too: I know a really great group of people online- you should totally join! Do it!…join…now…we all wear brand new Nikes and there’s going to be some really good Coolaide…
I gave my brothers one year memberships. No luck. But I have a friend who may join. I think he was intrigued by my tales of the meetups.
Yeah he’s intrigued! You must have told him about me. Like sailors to the siren’s song… ?
No. I don’t know any #NeverTrumpers, and they’re about the only ones welcome on the site, anymore. I can’t imagine why anyone but a #NeverTrumper would join.
You may as well tell us the story.
Mostly it was talking about the clever things my internet friends were saying. I’ve been legitimately surprised whenever someone signs up.
I don’t generally associate with people who will pay for things they can get free on the internet.
Agreed with Contessa. Many people either can’t imagine enjoying debate of politics and culture online “with strangers” or would rather be doing other things, if they have the free time. The meetups do help to break down the “strangers” impression.
Then again, Seawriter and I somehow missed each other at the last meetup in Spring even though we had met before. I think he said he even brought a ship model. We need a neon sign.
I got my dad to join.
I typically do emphasize that while an interest in conservative politics is what brings us together, we talk about much more than politics, and give examples.
Good. Tell us what your sales pitch was. I want to know if there are points I should be making that I am not.
Didn’t have to sell him much. He’s a conservative who reads voraciously.
Maybe you should have just invited him to Famous Dave’s and ambushed him with the meeting.
Also, does he not know Lileks? You should have told him Lileks would be there.
Well, it is supposed to be intelligent and civil conversation, so yeah.
Never have even tried.
Hey, I was going to send you a PMa couple days ago, but your Private Messaging is turned off. I wanted you to know we’re planning a weekend Ricochet Meetup in Montana.
My sister joined, but hasn’t chimed in at any point.
The editors are trying to keep it balanced, and I am trying to do my own part to present the other side of it.
#NeverHillary, #NeverObama
Outside of Ricochet, whenever I ask someone if they’ve heard of James Lileks the answer is always no, except for one time. I mentioned a book of his – The Gallery of Regrettable Foods – at a science fiction convention and a woman started laughing and quoting lines from the book.
Maybe in Minnesota. Me, I first started listening to James on Hugh Hewitt’s program, and was hooked immediately.
I have 3 friends who joined. On is my podcast host, the other is his wife, and the 3rd is a good friend from college. We’re not an official podcast, so no membership push, otherwise we might snag 3 or 4 more.
And I have sent my essays to a few people, who have no desire to read any more of that depressing crap! ;)
That’s it! We have to tell people that if they join they can be a co-host on Flyover Country!
I may not always comment, but I do read it, and it is well worth the time you put into it.
This kind of reply to a comment will draw new members like flies.
Your feminine wiles are wasted on him, VC. He’s even older than I am.
No man is entirely immune to the songs of a pretty lady.
Unless he’s pulseless. ;-)