talking stick

I live with a bunch of strong-willed intelligent and opinionated people. Discussions wander over the map and sometimes try to burrow deep. So yeah, loud and unproductive sometimes. Contra-purpose.

So I am insisting on a talking stick. Should I insist on a time limit, or do you think people can be trusted to express their idea and then pass the stick?

Our parliament imposes a strict 3 minute time limit on every speaker, unless there's been a vote approving a one-off extension because everyone wants to hear the rest. Might be easier to enforce!

Originally posted by @apathist
I live with a bunch of strong-willed intelligent and opinionated people. Discussions wander over the map and sometimes try to burrow deep. So yeah, loud and unproductive sometimes. Contra-purpose.

So I am insisting on a talking stick. Should I insist on a time limit, or do you think people can be trusted to express their idea and then pass the stick?

Wait. I need more information. What kinds of blows is one allowed to land with the stick, and to which parts of the strong-willed intelligent and opinionated people's bodies?

Originally posted by @apathist
I live with a bunch of strong-willed intelligent and opinionated people. Discussions wander over the map and sometimes try to burrow deep. So yeah, loud and unproductive sometimes. Contra-purpose.

So I am insisting on a talking stick. Should I insist on a time limit, or do you think people can be trusted to express their idea and then pass the stick?

Is a talking stick a bit like a conch shell in this scenario?

Originally posted by @divegeester
Is a talking stick a bit like a conch shell in this scenario?

i think so.
Reminds me of Lord of the Flies.

5 Years ago when our family still lived in Detroit, we had something like this. I only remember it vaguely, and it did not go well. Of course, the oldest was 12 and we were all kids. We just fought over the red spoon, our 'talking stick'.
Now we use the red spoon for disciplinary purposes.

Originally posted by @divegeester
Is a talking stick a bit like a conch shell in this scenario?

No, I'm wondering if it's more like a hair brush. But you'd need a mirror.

Originally posted by @fmf
No, I'm wondering if it's more like a hair brush. But you'd need a mirror.

And hair

Well, the method I know of the token is given around in the circle, so each Person gets an equal number of chances to talk. If they don't want to add, they just give it up to the next Person (and they do).