Content of Speeches - "What can I speak about?"

In a club, you may speak about anything you like within the following boundaries:

• All speeches need to comply with the local legislation. For online meetings, the jurisdiction where the club is officially registered will apply.
   
• For the Educational Paths, subjects of speeches may not be about public speaking. (For example, you may not choose "how to use Vocal Variety" as the subject of your speech for the Vocal Variety project). This limitation is that you need to learn how to use the different techniques to augment your speech, not as an end in itself. This limitation does not apply to speeches delivered in other sections of the meetings.
   
• Hate speech is not allowed.  We use the United Nation's definition of Hate Speech. Specifically:  "Hate speech is any communication in speech, writing or behavior, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language regarding a person or a group based on who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factors. This includes speeches that incite or promote violence, discrimination, hostility, or any animosity against groups of people". 
  
  Please note that humor, criticism, or just being "offensive" to someone is not considered hate speech and is not precluded by this section.
  
   
• Limitations introduced by clubs.
  • Each club may limit the kinds of subjects allowed in speeches, as long as the limitations are generic and do not violate the Neutrality and Intellectual Honesty core principles.
  • The limitations may be expressed either as a set of restricted subjects or as a set of mandatory subjects (especially for professional, corporate, or special-interest clubs)
  • The limitations must be objective.
  • The limitations may not go against any subject of the Foundation's goals as per our bylaws.
  • Here are some examples of valid limitations:

     

    • No speeches on Religion.
    • No speeches on Football.
    • No speeches on Politics.
    • No speeches on Celebrities.
    • No speeches on Sex or Sexuality.
    • No speeches selling products or services.
    • No self-promotion speeches.
    • Only speeches about History.
    • Only speeches about Religion (note: this restriction must allow speeches on the absence of religion, such as Agnosticism or Atheism).
    • Only speeches about Science and Technology.
    • Only speeches about Travel.
    • Only speeches with legal arguments.
    • Only sales-speeches.
    • Only work-related speeches (usually in corporate clubs).
       
  • Here are some examples of invalid limitations and the reason why they are invalid:

     

    • Only feel-good speeches   (Subjective).
    • No offensive speeches  (Subjective).
    • No speeches disrupting the good mood of the club   (Subjective).
    • No speeches casting doubt on Science (Against the bylaws).
    • No speeches about Islam  (Non-neutral).
    • No speeches about Socialism  (Non-neutral).
    • No speeches criticizing the government.  (Non-neutral).
    • Only speeches about the Socialist Party  (Non-neutral).
    • No speeches on Evolution   (Against the bylaws).
    • No speeches on Traditional Science  (Against the bylaws).
    • No speeches on Pseudoscience  (Non-neutral).
    • No speeches on our competitors' products  (Non-neutral).
    • No speeches on Nazism   (Non-neutral).
    • Only speeches about Homeopathy  (Against the bylaws).
    • Only speeches about Christianity (Non-neutral).
    • Only speeches about Non-official science. (Against the bylaws).
    • Only speeches about Non-traditional medicine.  (Against the bylaws).
       
  • Suppose a club chooses to limit the subjects of speeches. In that case, the limitations must be publicly communicated and visible in all of the club's online presence (website, Facebook group, etc.). It must explicitly point those limitations to guests and prospective members.
     
  • Members must vote changes to the limitations.
     
• Finally, note that some projects (usually in the Advanced Educational Paths) or activities (such as Contests) may limit the allowed kinds of speeches or even require that you speak about a particular subject.
   
• Speeches outside the club (for example, those given at Conventions, etc.) may have additional limitations.

In case of any doubts, feel free to send us a message at [email protected].

What If I'm not happy with the limitations set by my club?

If you're not happy with the limitations in your club, you have three options:

• If you believe the limitations violate Agora Speakers International's rules, please try to solve it within the club first by engaging the club officers and pointing them to this page. If the issue cannot be solved, please send us a link or copy of the club speech limitations at [email protected], indicating why you believe they violate the established rules.  Please also indicate clearly the club name and number.
   
• You can promote a change within the club and put a specific proposal in front of your club's membership for voting.
   
• You can always start a new club that doesn't have those limitations.