I have a question for you Zoners, and need your input.
I’ve heard from multiple people that they’d love to meet each other at the rally if there was any possible way. However, I don’t know how many of you have been to an event with 25K+ people, but that is a LOT of people. Even if I knew my way around DC, I don’t feel comfortable making any kind of an attempt at arranging a formal meet-up of Zoners. Plus, I think that each of our focus should be to make it as close to the front of the rally, as early as possible, and feel the full force force of the Colbert Nation around us when Stephen takes that stage.
That being said, I still think it would be neat to be able to recognize another Zoner should you see one in the crowd. I was thinking about offering some No Fact Zone t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts and hoodies on Zazzle.com for people to buy and wear during the rally. They would NOT be rally themed, but No Fact Zone themed. If I were to offer these, would it be something that any of you would be interested in? I’m thinking of something VERY simple, that could be spotted across a long ways, like just a black t-shirt with ZONER on the front (and our URL on the back), or maybe a white hoodie with the NFZ logo on the back and “Zoner” on the front.
Some of you may be thinking more that you might want to wear those cool ironic T-shirts that are so hip and cool with the younger generation these days and might not want a t-shirt but still would like to pick out a Zoner in the crowd. Another option would be something like finding somewhere that sells big Z pins that you could pin on your jacket.
Please leave your feedback in the comments. I don’t think it would take long to set things up on Zazzle, but I also want to be able to take care of things with plenty of time to spare. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you!
I’m not going to the rally (sadly), but I for one would adore some No Fact Zone merchandise! Even if it was just a shirt/sweatshirt that said “Zoner,” that would be neat. :D
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One big reason I’m hoping to go is to meet some it-getters I’ve known for several yeas. Therefore I’d be interested in this, but it depends on what I’d be spending on one. I’m scrimping for the trip as it is.
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I would definitely buy a zoner shirt, especially since I might end up having to go all by myself :’(. Anything easy to spot would work! Another way to spot each other in the crowd might be to put a big Z on the back of whatever sign you might be wielding, though I guess that would take up valuable fear-mongering space….
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You also mentioned maybe wanting to carpool and I do go through Ohio at some point, but only the very northern part around Cleveland and Toledo as of now. There is a chance that I may end up going through a different part but I’m not sure. Which area do you live in?
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Cincinnati, allllll the way down south. I don’t mind driving by myself, though, I was just hoping to be able to go in on a hotel room with somebody, or at least have people to hang around with while there. I do have a couple friends who might be going, but they’re being indecisive (*gasp*)… so I don’t actually know what’s happening as of yet :)
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Oh yeah, I’d totally buy a shirt! I like the idea of the logo in addition to “Zoner.” Maybe one option could be to have the logo on the front?
(reCAPTCHA: his cornhang. I don’t know what it means, but it’s making me snicker.)
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Can’t go to the rally (despair!), but add my vote to the idea of putting the NFZ logo on the shirt. People who don’t frequent NFZ won’t necessarily know who “Zoners” are, but everyone would get the logo/url, and it would be great publicity for our community!
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where exactly will stephen be at the national mall….hotel the closest???
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If you make some NFZ merch, I’m down to purchase some. It’s an awsome idea! If it’s not too costly, I think the black t-shirt is a great idea.
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I can’t attend the rally *sadface* even though it would be great to go and even better to see / meet Zoners and other CN citizens/friends … that being said, I would TOTALLY go for getting a Zoner T-shirt or mug or button or hat or some combination all of that. Yaahooo! Thx!
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MERCH!!!
I’ve been dying for some Zoner Merch for years. Yes, please, t-shirts, pins, hats, whatever you think would work. I’m in! The great thing about it would be when us Zoners go to other TCR or Stephen-related events aside from the rally, we can pick each other out then as well.
I’m dying go to the rally but slightly apprehensive about traveling down there by myself. I’m hoping to talk hubby into it. *ringers crossed* If not, well, I’m not entirely sure.
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I’d love a shirt — or something so we could recognize each other. Meeting up would be great, but if possible at all that might be best done AFTER the rally at a pre-chosen place with reservations made. Or even the next morning for people staying over.
Any New Yorkers (or New Jerseyites) going?
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This NYCer is probably going to spring for an Amtrak ticket, unless someone gets a carpool going. :-)
I’d love to meet some Zoners, but the number of people at the rally (even at the low estimates) kind of boggles me. I’ve tried to meet people at the Bryant Park Outdoor movies before and unless you’ve got an agreed-upon point nailed down it’s shockingly easy to get lost in the crowd.
I agree that meeting up afterwards (or before, for NYC/Philly/NJ Zoners) would probably be the easiest thing to organize.
According to Urban Dictionary, “Zoner” is also a derogatory (tongue in cheek, I imagine) term for folks form the state of Arizona.
I would totally rock a NFZ hoodie to the best of my abilities.
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No car here, unfortunately! (And no driving skills.) I will probably do that new bus line that’s supposed to be great, and is very cheap.
No way could we meet at the actual rally. That just wouldn’t work. And you are right about Bryant Park!–which barely comes close to what I think this rally will be. Friends of mine in Brazil are sharing the link! Of course, they’re not coming, but still it shows how intense the interest is, and how buzzworhty the event.
A hoodie would be a great idea. October might be cool, even in DC.
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No car here either (and my driving skills are probably pretty rusty – certainly too rusty for Dupont Circle) alas. Gotta start hanging around Zipcar neighborhoods and make friends. :-)
FYI: I scouted out the bus options before I decided on Amtrak. Bolt Bus (the cheapest NYC/DC bus ticket, I think) looks like it only has two drop off times: depart at 9AM and arrive at 12:45PM, and a 7PM arrival time. Greyhound has more times but is pricier of course, and Vamoose seems to drop off in Bethesda or Rosslyn which isn’t that convenient to the Mall (i.e., may have to hop on DC Metro to get to the rally). And get to the bus early in case they overbook! Good luck.
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Thanks for the info! Wow…just one early bus. That is NOT looking good.
Oh, and…I CANNOT figure out WHAT this recaptcha is! It’s like a weird Druidic symbol. I am copying this now so as not to retype.
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Check out the bus companies in Chinatown… I use New Century to go from Philly to NYC a lot, and they go to DC, too. It’s $35 roundtrip (NY to DC and back), and they leave as early as 7am and the last return bus is normally 11pm. 2000coach.com
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I might be going. I hope so. If I can’t get anyone to come with me, and it’s looking that way, then yeah, I would love to be able to identify with some people in the crowd. I think a hat would be best. Easiest to see and in case the weather is chilly or rainy, a jacket would cover a t-shirt, so a hat would work. Was that an option?
I would so love to meet some of you great folks I’ve gotten to know online.
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I would TOTALLY buy and wear any of those items to the rally!!! Great idea!
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yay! i would totally buy a hoodie!
i honestly can’t wait for this. so far, i’ll be there solo, so anything to make me feel less lost would be much appreciated.
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I am planning on wearing my **sparkly eagle tanktop** so a pin or a hat would be great! I’d probably buy a t-shirt and/or hoodie, too, just ’cause I <3 NFZ. :p
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You’re going to need a NFZ hoodie so you don’t freeze in your sparkly eagle tanktop!!
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I would definitely buy a shirt, hoodie, or hat with the NFZ logo on it. I’ll probably be going with a group of my college friends, but I would love to meet some of the Zoners in person.
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I would totally sport a Zoner tee or a sweatshirt!
If anyone has any info on an organized bus trip down there from NYC – keep me posted!
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I’d love an organized BUS RIDE TO FEAR! The best bus line from NYC, Bolt, wouldn’t get you there until early afternoon, which could be pushing it if the rally started at 1 or 2. (I imagine some people will be camping out overnight — if it’s allowed — to get a top spot.)
I wonder how many people are going from the city and close environs….
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i’d love to go and i’d love a tshirt! even though i’m not super active on here… :Da
is anyone coming down from boston?
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When I go to Breast Cancer Walk/Runs, groups that want to make sure they find eachother have signs – a LARGE piece of posterboard (preferably NEON) with the name of the org written on it and attached to a LONG pole/stick/whatever so you can see it from far away above the crowd. That way people arriving can just walk toward the sign. Depending on the size of our group, we could have several of these signs to increase the chances that people would see them.
Another idea is to pick a public place that’s open 24/7 – like a hotel lobby/restaurants/gas station – and meet there (or outside of it). We could agree that we’ll wait there til a certain time and walk to the rally together – 7 AM? – and anyone who comes after that has to look for the signs at the rally. If we pick a place to meet I DO NOT recommend anywhere w/i a couple of blocks of the Wash. monument lots of other people may be meeting there too.
I think the Tshirts are great, but I don’t think they’d help us find eachother in the crowd. The shirts could be used to “advertize” NFZ and we could wear them even when we’re not at the rally (or until they get smelly ;-)
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I’m all for meeting up with people early to go together. It seems that there are indeed several people who are going alone, and oh my Glod, just thinking about navigating that crowd is already giving me a panic attack! And I think you’re probably right about the shirts. Still definitely want one, though! :)
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What about getting a batch of those Mickey Mouse-eared flying helmets that Stephen wasmodelling the other week? No one could fail to mistake a Zoner in one of those!
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If you check the Rally to Restore Sanity’s twitter page (http://twitter.com/rally4sanity), it says the rally is scheduled from 12-3pm. So I would imagine the March to Keep Fear Alive will start at either the same time or sometime after. So that might be helpful for those of you on a bus schedule or if you’re flying in that morning. :)
And DB, even though I’m not going to the rally, I would love some NFZ merch! I’d definitely buy a T-shirt or sweatshirt. :D
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I would totally rock a Zoner shirt, but alas I am living on a button budget. I am thinking of hitting the thrift stores to find something American Flaggy and/or Eagley (preferably both) and am not above scrawling ZONER across the back in sharpie if that’s what it takes.
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I’m going to the rally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flying in from the UK esp for it! cannot wait!!!!
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