What we’re about
***If you were removed from the group but still want to attend events, please re-join and answer our screening questions! Look for the email we sent for more info.***
Come discuss deep topics with smart, interesting people.
A small sample of topics we've discussed recently:
- Is it better to live a well-rounded life that is ultimately mediocre and unsurprising or to maximize on one dimension or pursuit?
- Seneca the Younger said: "We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." Is this true? How do we stop worrying? If not true, what is the right level of worrying?
- Does the court system only work to adjudicate disputes between people of the same class? Rich people or corporations can sue each other and get to a resolution, but a poor person can never successfully sue a CEO or a giant corporation, because the latter will bleed them dry in legal fees. If true, does that open a door to vigilanteism?
- Disasters like the LA fire are being blamed on climate change. But if you actually look, even with this global warming trend, we're talking 1 degree warmer on average, maybe just a tad bit drier on average. All this seems insufficient to explain the magnitude of the calamities befalling us. Is "climate change" a convenient excuse for political and administrative failure?
- Can giving up dating be a valid option? How can it be made healthy, and what role can community support play in this decision?
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Group Discussion - Language: Still Lost in Translation?Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA
Join us in mutual enrichment of perspectives through discussing deep topics in the company of warm, insightful people. Many of us are regulars, but newcomers are welcome!
On a sunny Sunday a year ago, we memorably looked at the promise and pitfalls of language. Now, as a new season begins, we’ll revisit the language and communication domain from fresh angles: what’s changed, what hasn’t, and whether there's fresh hope for humanity's ability to communicate.
Last year these were some of the areas we covered:
- Is it always good to know exactly what another person means?
- Has the internet and social media improved our communication?
- Will technology eliminate language as we know it?
- Ultimately, what is the future of language?
Before the meetup, feel free to submit topic suggestions in the realm of language, communication, and miscommunication using this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1r69tYWPU5EyG5edTkcsUFz6aP_ciK1uI9YL67Gx84v8/
The group will vote on which 2-3 topics we would like to talk about, then have a facilitated discussion for about 30-45 minutes on each topic (ideally we'll weave a thread through the discussion).
Location Note: We are finalizing the venue for this meetup, but it will be located in the vicinity of *Mission Bay/Mission Rock*. Once the attendee roster is finalized, we'll communicate the exact location to confirmed attendees 1-2 days before we meet. Please only attend if you have a confirmed spot, as per our norms. Standard Meetup norms/terms of service also apply: https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360027447252-Terms-of-Service
Looking forward to our discussion!
