Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest - Appropriate Topic?

[Bing Wu]

Dear all,

For better or for worse, I have progressed to the Division level of the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in my District.

From what I've heard, my victory at the Area contest last week was "highly controversial", and caused another club to lodge a complaint that my speech, on flatulence, would win the contest. I am told that flatulence is a no-no, taboo topic in TM, and no speech on the subject could ever be expected to win at the District level. This was all told to me by a fellow contestant at the Area contest whom I defeated.

If it is indeed the case that flatulence is an unwelcome topic at a humorous speech contest, my first instinct is that TM must be full of old, stodgy stalwarts with pickles lodged in certain places...

However, if a speech on flatulence stands no chance, then I would consider re-writing on another topic. But I'd like to know from anyone else here who's involved in TM, if they have any experience as to the subject matter of humorous speeches. Have I crossed the line? No matter what, I still proudly fart... many times a day!

[Angela]

congratulations on your win! I vote for a new speech, not because the fart one is controversial, but just to knock everybody's socks off. Maybe a speech on political correctness?

[seeker5]

Apparently, the judges at the area level felt your speech was not only acceptable, but the funniest speech and thus disagreed with the person who felt your speech was off. That's why you won.

Go with your existing speech and ignore the sore loser.

ps. If the loser was an expert on what can win and lose....then why did he lose?

[Erin Pavlina]

Controversial topics can cost you the contest. I think a speech on flatulence is going to make a large portion of your audience uncomfortable. But I think you should decide what you want most: to do the speech you want to do or to create a speech that has a less controversial topic which may increase your chances of winning.

Part of the judging is appropriateness to the audience. Does your audience want to hear a speech on this topic? If not, you will be marked down in that category.

Totally up to you, but I think there are topics you can choose which won't be controversial.

Big congrats on making it to division!

[Brutha]

The only thing that is illegal is to use material from someone else or to be discriminating.

At my toastmaster club I don't think you would have a problem with a speech like that. On the other hand I live in Europe where some things are seen a bit differently.

[mrsmith]

I've been in Toastmasters for a few years so I totally understand where you are coming from. As you progress through the levels (club, area, division) it seems that the people tighten up quite a bit. If you think about it, the people who tend to put the most stock in Toastmasters are older people. Older people usually aren't open minded open topics such as smelling up a room with your fumes.

Having said that, if it were me I'd go with the flatulence speech. You like it and it was obviously the first thing that came to your mind for a humorous speech. Don't worry yourself about the controversy, no one is going to blackball you from Toastmasters. The humorous speech contest is supposed to be fun. Refine the speech, make it better, and knock it out of the park.

You can't let people suck ALL the juice out of your life.

[Bing Wu]

Thanks all for your replies. It's a tough decision to make, with the time constraints involved and what not, but I think I'll have a good time either way. To tell the truth, during the speech contests I'm most afraid of not performing my best, regardless of the topic of the speech.

[jca]

I've taken part in TM contests at the highest level and just like you enjoy pushing the boundaries of TM and it's sometimes old fashioned, conservative members/judges...

Question is, do you want to win, yes or no? I doubt whether you will win with a speech only on flatulence (could you perhaps write a new speech where it's not the main topic but used strategically?) and will be very surprised if they let you, one or two judges can mark you 0 on appropriateness and your contest is over. If presenting this speech is so important to you that winning/losing is not NB and the message IS then deliver it - but accept consequences.

Good luck and have fun

[Bing Wu]

Well, I lost at Division in 2008, but this year, in 2009, I made to the District finals. This time, I didn't speak about flatulence, but I still used quite a bit of "potty humor". Here's the youtube clip:

YouTube - Toastmasters District 61 Humorous Speech Contest Finals - Alex Wu