Conversations Cafe - Host: Vishal

Come spark your curiosity and engage in thoughtful conversations with friendly people.

The format is BYOT (Bring Your Own Topic) and is somewhat similar in style to what is known as the Socrates Cafe. There will be fallback topics, so it’s alright if you don’t have one in mind — just show up!

We will split the discussion into two parts. The first one is about a hour and a half long where we vote from the list of topics that people bring and choose one.
Some examples of topics include:

Social Media (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly)

• How often do you use social media? Which platforms do you enjoy using?
• Do you find it helpful in anyway?
• In what way is it harmful? Why do we continue to use it knowing the risks?
• What are the strategies we can employ to maximize benefits and mitigate downside?
• Is complete cut-off possible? Is it healthy or realistic?

Family Dynamics

• How have the traditional notions of family changed, and what does the modern family look like in today's society?
• What are the challenges and benefits of the evolving family structures, and how do they impact individuals and communities?
• Is the institution of marriage under attack or reform?

Ideally the person suggesting the topic will also have a few sub-questions pertaining to it. The discussions will have a healthy balance of spontaneity and direction. After about forty five minutes, depending on the level of interest and engagement, the moderator will decide whether to continue or put another topic out to vote.

The second optional part of the meetup (also subject to vote) is to discuss any noteworthy (non-political) current event in the world. An example of this might be the recent case of Open AI agents hacking into a popular website (Hugging Face).

Short articles/excerpts/essays from books/news sites/online blogs/journals are not only welcome but highly encouraged!

The overarching goal of this thought cafe is to to create a space for biweekly in-person events for people who enjoy discussing stimulating topics & like to stay updated with current happenings in the world, and to do so with curiosity and non-judgement. Come converse and build deep connections at the same time, all while having fun!

Moderators: Vishal & Yen

Note on Venue: The Cafe is on Greenwich Street (not Greene street, which is another location for the same chain). Exact table details will be available on the day of the event.