ceigered:

razlem:

ceigered: so maybe some who aren't put off the idea of conlangs altogether dabble into things like Lojban.

Or create their own languages altogether

I wonder who might have tried that... *hides in a large octagonal box covered with alfoil* (quick razlem, enskatoliĝu! The thought-police will never find us!)

They're tryin to control us man!

razlem:

ceigered:
I wonder who might have tried that... *hides in a large octagonal box covered with alfoil* (quick razlem, enskatoliĝu! The thought-police will never find us!)

They're tryin to control us man!

Those pigs! We'll become...the Three Geskatalanoj.

Kraughne:

razlem:

ceigered:
I wonder who might have tried that... *hides in a large octagonal box covered with alfoil* (quick razlem, enskatoliĝu! The thought-police will never find us!)

They're tryin to control us man!

Those pigs! We'll become...the Three Geskatalanoj.

This is starting to sound more like a cult than a hide away place.

"O dia skatolo, kaj via mistera ena vakuo, kiu enhavas multajn sekretojn, bonvolu ŝmiri ŝirmi nin el niaj persekutantoj.."

Or a company trio.

Better yet, we should all three convert to Judaism and start practicing Kabbalah. Esperanto's been accused of being a Jewish language anyway; let's revert to our true roots! Geskatalanoj por eterne!

erinja:
The main problem is that the experienced speakers often don't bother showing up at the meetings. The exception to this rule is Boston, which (as of a few years ago, when I last lived there) had a core group of experienced speakers who all regularly showed up at the monthly meetings.

The DC area does have some very talented speakers but usually you will only find them at the Zamenhof banquet, unless you make a point of meeting up with them individually.

The cafe meeting is beginner-heavy -- a prime reason, but not the only reason, why I stopped going, sorry to say. I do my part for beginners here at lernu.

Quite interesting to hear of the current situation of other cities. What I experienced onsite (Munich) at Esperanto and English Stammtischen: Having the same interest for some foreign language isn't enough coming together motivation. Participating people also have to have conjointly interests. So in my opinion finding the right mix of language proviciency and non-language related interests/hobbies is the leveling rule (=reaching relaxed ambience) for regular ongoing language conversation meetings. Even more I would say that the hobby has to be listed at first priority and (Esperanto) language training at second priority for that regarding meeting.

Kraughne:Geskatolano

*gasps* How dare you misspell our divine title! Normally for that you would be forced to bare the title of "Skatolaneto" and be made to make daily pilgrimages to la skatolo de komprenado! However since I just said "la salato de komprenado" when reading that outloud, I'll let you off...

That Kabbalah stuff is interesting, especially about the soul.

ceigered:

Kraughne:Geskatolano

*gasps* How dare you misspell our divine title! Normally for that you would be forced to bare the title of "Skatolaneto" and be made to make daily pilgrimages to la skatolo de komprenado! However since I just said "la salato de komprenado" when reading that outloud, I'll let you off...

That Kabbalah stuff is interesting, especially about the soul.

Bleĥ. You're right on both counts.

sudanglo:I came across this opinion in whilst browsing the Net.

The Esperantists consist of two groups. The polyglots who don't need to speak Esperanto, and the eternal beginners who will never speak Esperanto.

It is not quite exact: a third group gather the most visible esperantists, anticonformists who are good esperanto speakers knowing no other non-native language and promomoting esperanto often in counterproductive ways.

The prospect of Esperanto acquiring millions of fluent speakers does seem remote.

Perhaps the movement would do well to more actively develop a third category of Esperantist - that of Supporter of Esperanto.

Those would be people who have sufficient knowledge of Esperanto to apppreciate its potential but whilst not committed to becoming fluent speakers (which does take time and effort) are ready to express their commitment to the idea - a sort of political party.

Perhaps, the Esperanto movement asks too much in expecting potential members of the movement to not only to approve of the aims of the Esperanto movement, but also to spend hours learning the language.

Obviously such Supporters will not have any authority if they have never studied the language at all, but maybe a minimum standard test could be applied, and those passing this basic test could then become (honourably) Supporters of the language rather than being dismissively labelled as as 'eternaj komencantoj'.

By the way the verb 'Kabei' means to withdraw from the movement after having been a fully fledged Esperantist (possibly, but not necessarily, in reaction to the linguistic competence of other Esperantists)

The idea of a supporter of Esperanto seems to be common, at least in Italy. I attended an informal gathering of one local Italian Esperanto group; of the 15 or so attendees, only three were capable of having a fluent conversation with me, one or two others could speak a bit of broken Esperanto, and the others, apparently, not at all. I asked someone why so many non-speakers are members of this group; I was told that it's because they support the idea.