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A hot take is a statement that’s provocative enough that people can’t help but weigh in with their thoughts. It’s usually a controversial opinion that has no factually right or wrong answer, which means you can debate endlessly on who is “right.” When they’re thoughtfully planned, hot takes open the door for plenty of conversation and connection.
Here’s what makes hot takes so much fun:
We usually see hot takes in areas like entertainment, sports, hobbies, and food. They usually feature unpopular opinions, so much so that they‘re similar to memes and often divide opinion.
“Pineapple belongs on a pizza” is a popular one, because people often have strong opinions on whether it does or doesn’t. Statements like “Star Wars is awful” or “Facebook Gaming is better than Twitch” are also likely to get people talking, because people usually have a preferred streaming service or a take on whether the Star Wars franchise is brilliant or not.
The hot takes the land are widely relatable. Try to avoid anything that requires niche knowledge (unless you know your audience), so you can keep your game more inclusive. Always keep your group in mind when you’re thinking of which hot takes to share — tailor it to people’s sense of humor, how well you know them, and their own personal opinions and experiences.
"How was your weekend?"
Beyond being a stale question, you might not want to share sometimes. Maybe you spent the entire weekend as a couch potato binge watching the new season of Bridgerton or House of Dragons (no shame in that!). But, after a few weeks of answering, this question can feel more like something to check off the agenda, rather than a genuine question.
Hot takes, however, give people an outlet to share something new about themselves with the rest of the team. It opens up brand new opportunities for rapport and team building because you get to see people in a brand new light, which ultimately help us be more productive at work.
Not to mention, most of us have controversial opinions about the silliest little things (and we're not afraid to share them).
Let’s take a look at some hot takes ideas for some popular categories.
Want your team members to get into a debate over whether cats or dogs are better? Here are some fun animal themed hot takes you can try.
1. Sloths aren’t as cute in real life.Explore people’s favorite streaming services, technology brands, and football teams with some of these hot takes that have you debating all things brands.
7. Samsung is better than Apple.Are romantic comedies terrible? Who’s really the best Marvel character? Get people talking about music, movies, gaming, and TV shows with these entertainment hot takes.
13. Podcasts aren’t worth listening to.Are you pro skinny jeans? Think that terrible hair style from the ‘70s is due a comeback? Debate all things stylish (or not) with these fashion themed hot takes.
19. I miss bootleg jeans from the first time around.Uncover whether your team members love weird pizza combinations or have some seriously controversial food opinions with these food and drink themed hot takes.
25. Pineapple is the best pizza topping.
26. Pop tarts are overrated.
27. Deep dish pizza is the best.
28. Cheese should be featured in every dish.
29. Drinks don’t need glitter on it.
30. Nobody truly likes avocados.
Which is the ultimate bucket list vacation location? Are cruises underrated? Explore some travel themed hot takes to get to know your team members better.
31. Everyone should go on a cruise vacation at least once.
32. American road trips are overrated.
33. There are way more romantic cities than Paris.
34. The Great Pyramids aren’t as great as they look in photos.
35. Seeing the world should be on everyone’s bucket list.
36. You should learn the language before you travel.
We can't believe the internet is free. Seriously. We scoured the internet to find the funniest and weirdest (in the best way) controversial opinions people had. These are our top finds:
37. If you don't have your blinker on, your car can't turn.
38. Umbrellas are the worst invention ever made.
39. Water does taste different.
40. Cereal goes in first, not milk.
41. Netflix cracking down on password sharing is reasonable.
42. The customer isn't always right.
43. Checking in luggage is better than bringing a carry on.
44. Wearing socks with sandals is perfectly fine.
45. Professional athletes are terrible role models.
Introducing an easier way to avoid overwhelm and surface the perfect hot takes — Polly’s Hot Takes feature. We have more than 110 questions in our library, and each time you use Polly to start a hot take, it’ll share a random question.
Not sure that one’s quite right for the moment? Hit shuffle until you find the perfect hot take to share with your team!
There’s something for everyone in our library, including hot takes like:
Each of these gives you a talking point to start with, and you can debate over your answers and let the conversation flow and develop. Often, hot takes don’t have a defined right answer, which gives you plenty of room to challenge, question, and lay out why you think your take is the right one.
Our hot takes social game is easy to set up and run through Slack. Run a new discussion every week in your #watercooler channel, create a dedicated channel for people to get to know each other through our social games, or simply share one randomly to your team channel. Use your hot takes to spark a discussion, engage with your team, and give everyone the chance to have a say on something controversial.
Hot takes aren’t the only way to engage with your team. Add team check-ins, trivia games, and employee appreciation awards to your favorite communication app with Polly. Explore our employee engagement features today and find new ways to inspire, engage, and connect with your team.