The Thousands

A few years ago I heard a rumour about an exclusive club that met in various North Perth sharehouses, people who got together semi-regularly with the common goal of: ‘learning shit’. ’Shit’ being anything from how to catch a Pokemon, to the details of Kafka’s dying wish, to the difference between emulsions and suspensions, to what hypnogogic pop actually is, and whether or not it’s worth listening to.

Perth’s first ever ‘General Knowledge Club’ started when a certain local songwriter was lamed out by the fact her otherwise scholarly parents didn’t get first place at a quiz night. She saw it as a wake-up call and began to gather friends, asking them to present on anything and everything – ten minute presentations of their area of expertise, or just anything they had decided to learn for the night. It soon became a monthly (ish) event. Today, there are secret chapters in Sydney, Melbourne and London, and also a guy in Oregon who had the same idea, miraculously, on the other side of the world.

Direct from the founder, here’s how to run your own: “Find ten to fifteen friends who like knowing stuff. Invite them to your place. Pick three or four people in the bunch to talk on whatever topic they like, for ten minutes, then open it to the floor. Always start the club by saying ‘Welcome to General Knowledge Club, possibly the greatest club of all time”. And make sure everyone brings top-shelf snacks.” Ipsa scientia potestas est, yo!