Social Survival How-to
How to host a Fact‑Tea: dunk claims, read sources and embarrass a manifesto politely
Turn a viewing party into a live fact-checking salon: five simple steps to prepare claim cards, brew suspicious tea, time answers, compare sources and award polite biscuit-based verdicts so every dubious Reform UK line gets a proper dunking
- 01
Invites, capacity and a cheeky rule sheet
Decide the guest number and the tenor of the evening. Limit to four to eight people so everyone gets to dunk and speak; schedule 90–120 minutes and ask each guest to bring one claim or two credible sources on their phone.
Place a short printed rule sheet by the front door that says: be civil, bring evidence, no yelling across biscuits and keep cameras optional.
- 02
Make tidy claim cards
Write each claim verbatim on one side of an index card and the cited URL or source note on the back. Keep cards short: the full quoted claim (as you would read it aloud), the source name and one-line context (time/place). Number cards and limit the stack to eight for one party.
Add a quick 'confidence' score 1–5 in the corner so guests know how dangerous the claim feels before research.
- 03
Brew a pot of 'suspicious' tea
Brew a strong pot of black tea to fuel the research. Use about 2 g loose leaf or one tea bag per 200 ml water, boil and steep 4 minutes for normal strength, 6 minutes for 'suspicious' strength; offer milk and lemon on the side and a decaf alternative.
Label the teapot 'SUSPICION' with a sticky note for ceremony and place two cups for dunk-tests at every seat.
- 04
Assemble a quick-source shelf
Collect at least three source types for rapid checks. Ready one device with a search tab open, print or bookmark the original claim's source, a major national outlet or parliamentary record, and one independent fact-check like an established fact-checking organisation or official data page.
Label a small 'source shelf' area on the table so every round someone can put their printouts or phone for group inspection.
- 05
Assign roles and set timers
Name a moderator, a timekeeper and a recorder before you begin. Use a 3‑minute research window, a 90‑second summary to the group, and a 60‑second rebuttal window; the timekeeper enforces these with a visible timer.
The recorder writes claim, verdict and two supporting source links onto the card back so the 'Dunked' archive grows visibly during the night.
- 06
Run a round: read, dunk and research
The moderator reads a claim aloud and then the ceremonial dunk begins. One invited audience member performs a brief theatrical dunk of a biscuit into their tea to mark 'initial reaction' while the research window begins—this is symbolic, not decisive.
Teams or individuals use the 3 minutes to find the original wording, supporting or contradicting sources and any primary documents that settle the claim.
- 07
Compare sources and check phrasing
Line up the three sources and ask one simple question: does the original source actually support the precise wording? Compare direct quotes, dates and context; look for missing qualifiers (like 'could' vs 'will') or data misreads.
If the claim rests on a press release or social post, prioritise the original wording over second‑hand summaries.
- 08
Award a biscuit verdict
Translate the adjudication into a polite biscuit ceremony. 'Polite' verdict (substantiated): light dunk for 2 seconds and applause; 'Skeptical' (unproven/needs more evidence): long dunk 6–8 seconds and a curt nod; 'Embarrassed' (wrong/misleading): remove a biscuit from the plate, dunk the card briefly into the tea as a symbolic soak, then place the biscuit on the 'Remedial' plate.
Recorder notes the final verdict and the two best URLs on the card back for the archive.
- 09
Archive results and consider polite outreach
File each dunked card into a 'Dunked Claims' box with the recorded sources and a one‑sentence correction. After the party, compile a short, civil summary PDF of findings and sources—this is your evidence pack for 'embarrassed' claims.
If you choose outreach, draft a respectful, factual note linking your evidence and invite clarification; avoid railings, insults or coordinated pressure—this is meant to be polite embarrassment, not harassment.
- 10
Finish with a debrief and biscuit awards
Close with a 'digestive debrief' where guests name the round that changed their mind and crown the 'Most Relentless Biscuit'—a small prize. Share the compiled PDF with attendees and an optional public-friendly correction post if you agreed to do so as a group.
End ceremonially by putting the cards into a visible archive on a bookshelf so your next Fact‑Tea begins with a history of victorious dunkings.
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