Strangely Hopeful
A game for 3 to 8 people · about 15 minutes · defend, listen, and ask better questions
Six real news items. One bold statement that starts “The signal…” Everyone picks the signal they think fits it best, then defends it for one minute while everyone else simply listens. In silence, each person writes a new question worth exploring. The group chooses its three must-explore questions, then talks about what made them feel strangely hopeful about their role as a leader.
You need
- The cut-out cards: 6 signals and 12 statements
- Sticky notes or scrap paper, a pen each, a phone timer, and the record sheet
Set up (1 minute)
- Lay the signal cards face up. Everyone reads them.
- Shuffle the statement cards face down.
- Choose a Keeper to keep time and fill in the record sheet.
- 3 players: play two rounds. 4 to 8 players: play one round.
Choose (2 minutes)
- Put all the question notes in the middle and number them.
- Everyone makes three ticks on the questions they most want to explore, not their own.
- The three with the most ticks are your must-explore questions. If there’s a tie, talk it through.
Reflect (3 minutes)
“How did this conversation make you feel strangely hopeful about your role as a leader?”
- Go around once, then open it up.
Each round
1Match0:40
Flip a statement card and read it aloud. (If it has a blank, the reader fills it in.) Without talking, everyone chooses the signal they think fits best. On “Ready, set, go!” everyone holds up that many fingers. The Keeper notes the picks.
2Defend1:00 each
One at a time, rarest pick first. Each person defends their pick for one minute (45 seconds in groups of 7–8). Nobody responds. No questions, no rebuttals. Everyone else just listens.
3Draft1:00
In silence, everyone writes one new question to explore on a sticky note, ideally built on something they heard. On “Ready, set, go!” everyone reveals their note.
What would it take for…? · What if our school…? · Who decides…? · How might we…?
For everyone
- The minute is yours. You can stop early, and a pause is fine.
- A pick is just a number. Say it, show it, or write it.
- Any language is fine for thinking and writing questions.
Strangely Hopeful · by Tricia Friedman · triciafriedman.com · Inspired by The Metagame by Local No. 12 (Macklin, Sharp & Zimmerman) · Signals are real events; each card lists its source.