The NYC MBTI Meetup Group

FTI: Can government-funded childcare actually pay for itself?

Tue, May 5 · 6:45 PM EDT

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Online

Online

This event explores a question that cuts across politics:

Can government-funded childcare actually pay for itself?

Recent data from places like Quebec suggests that large-scale childcare programs may not just reduce poverty—they may generate enough economic activity to offset their costs. Similar conversations are now emerging in parts of the United States.
But interpretations of these results vary widely depending on political perspective.

In this discussion, we’ll bring together different viewpoints (including Trump-aligned and non-Trump perspectives) to explore:

• Does subsidized childcare create real economic return, or hidden costs?
• What assumptions are built into the “it pays for itself” argument?
• How should we think about government’s role in family support?
• What trade-offs are we not talking about?

This is not a debate for soundbites. The goal is a thoughtful, fact-based conversation where people engage with the data—and each other—honestly.
Come prepared to listen, challenge ideas, and think critically.

A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.

Format:
Lecture and discussion

Note:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.

Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.

Typing People: Frameworks, Bias, and Boundaries

Sat, May 9 · 3:00 PM EDT

Midtown, 142 W 57th St., New York, NY, US

Hosts: Mike-INFJ, Margarita-INFP, Vin-ESFP, Yen-xxTx & Volunteers.

PROCEDURAL CHANGE: Before noon on the day of this event, contact Conversations New York’s Meetup profile for the venue address.

Reconnect with old friends & meet new ones. Invite a curious mind. :)

***

## Event Focus

This session explores how we type people, not just what type they are.
We’ll examine:

• Different typing frameworks (behavioral vs cognitive vs trait-based)
• How personal bias influences perception
• Where typing becomes unclear, inconsistent, or potentially harmful

This is a structured thinking space designed for respectful discussion, curiosity, and clarity.

***

## Policy Reminder

“This meetup group’s websites and events are not intended for the purpose of dating, selling goods or services, organizing political activities, or any unlawful actions. Our goal is to avoid conflicts of interest as we bring people together to learn, grow, and share wisdom.
Each participant is responsible for maintaining an environment conducive to conversation and friendship at meetups.”

***

## Resources

Tim Flynn Resource: https://similarminds.com/global5/g5-jung.html
SimilarMinds.com is a resource for personality tests and personality psychology.

***

## What to Expect

• Structured discussion (not debate-focused)
• Exploration of different perspectives and frameworks
• Opportunities to reflect on how we perceive and understand others

You may agree, disagree, or refine your thinking but the goal is clarity, not consensus.

***

# Proposed Agenda

PROCEDURAL CHANGE: Before noon on the day of this event, contact Conversations New York’s Meetup profile for the venue address.

***

### 3:00 PM — Arrival & Check-In

• Find Yen for a name badge (Name + MBTI type)
• Light conversation and settling in

***

### 3:10 PM — Opening Frame (Mike-INFJ)

• Overview of session focus
• Ground rules for structured discussion
• Aligning on purpose: understanding frameworks, not “winning” types

***

### 3:15 – 3:35 PM — Framework Alignment

Topic: How do we type people?
We’ll explore common approaches:

• Behavioral (what we observe)
• Cognitive (functions / Beebe model)
• Trait-based (Big Five, Enneagram influence)
• Narrative/contextual (life experience, environment)

Prompt:
“Which approach do you use most and why do you trust it?”

***

### 3:35 – 4:05 PM — Live Case Study

Structured Typing Exercise

• Silent reflection: choose a type + framework
• Round robin: share type and method (no debate yet)
• Group discussion: compare frameworks

Focus:
Challenge the method, not just the conclusion

***

### 4:05 – 4:25 PM — Bias & Distortion

Topic: Where typing breaks down
We’ll explore:

• Projection and personal bias
• Influence of liking/disliking someone
• Overlap with labels (e.g., ADHD, autism, personality disorders)

Prompt:
“When does typing become inaccurate or unfair?”

***

### 4:25 – 4:50 PM — Boundaries in Typing

Topic: Ethical limits of personality analysis
Discussion points:

• Typing public figures: insight or projection?
• Using clinical terms: useful or harmful?
• Typing others without consent

Goal:
Balance curiosity with responsibility

***

### 4:50 PM — Closing Reflection (Mike-INFJ)

Key takeaway:

> “We don’t just disagree on people we often disagree on the systems we use to understand them.”

***

### 5:00 PM — Formal End

Typically, the group continues conversations afterward and may go out to dinner together.
Margarita (INFP), Mike (INFJ), and others may coordinate an informal after-meetup hang.

***

# Prerequisite

Please take a free MBTI-style test and be familiar with your type before attending.

***

## 🔗 Type Resources

ISTJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISTJ.html
Duty Fulfillers https://www.celebritytypes.com/istj.php
ESTJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESTJ.html
Guardians https://www.celebritytypes.com/estj.php
ISFJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISFJ.html
Nurturers https://www.celebritytypes.com/isfj.php
ESFJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESFJ.html
Caregivers https://www.celebritytypes.com/esfj.php
ISTP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISTP.html
Mechanics https://www.celebritytypes.com/istp.php
ESTP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESTP.html
Doers https://www.celebritytypes.com/estp.php
ESFP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESFP.html
Performers https://www.celebritytypes.com/esfp.php
ISFP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISFP.html
Artists https://www.celebritytypes.com/isfp.php
ENTJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ENTJ.html
Executives https://www.celebritytypes.com/entj.php
INTJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/INTJ.html
Scientists https://www.celebritytypes.com/intj.php
ENTP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ENTP.html
Visionaries https://www.celebritytypes.com/entp.php
INTP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/INTP.html
Thinkers https://www.celebritytypes.com/intp.php
ENFJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ENFJ.html
Givers https://www.celebritytypes.com/enfj.php
INFJ https://www.personalitypage.com/html/INFJ.html
Protectors https://www.celebritytypes.com/infj.php
ENFP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/ENFP.html
Inspirers https://www.celebritytypes.com/enfp.php
INFP https://www.personalitypage.com/html/INFP.html
Idealists https://www.celebritytypes.com/infp.php

Power, Responsibility, and Survival: Why Social Science Matters More Than Ever

Tue, May 12 · 6:45 PM EDT

·

Online

Online

We’ve spent centuries accelerating progress through hard science—but have we kept pace in understanding how to use that power responsibly?

This session explores a critical imbalance: while technology has driven massive gains in productivity and capability, advancements in the social sciences—how we govern, allocate power, and define responsibility—have lagged behind. The result is a world where increasingly powerful tools are placed in human hands without equally strong systems to ensure they’re used wisely.

We’ll dive into:

• Why technological progress without social progress creates systemic risk
• How society currently grants and restricts power (degrees, laws, incarceration—and their limits)
• The concept of aligning power with responsibility to minimize harm and maximize collective well-being
• Whether and how we should vet leaders (e.g., for altruism and fairness) before giving them authority
• What a modern “social science breakthrough” could look like—and how it could shape the future of civilization

This is a discussion about survival, ethics, and design at the highest level:
If humanity continues to increase its power, how do we ensure that power is used to expand freedom and well-being—not destroy it?

Expect a thoughtful, challenging conversation aimed at building frameworks that scale with the world we’re creating.

A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.

Format:
Lecture and discussion

Note:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.

Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.