Sit & Think: Inaugural Session of a Rhetorical Forum

This is the first full session of Sit & Think, a new civil community forum inspired by the spirit of free exchange of ideas at Walk & Talk meetups. The session features a short talk on a theme from politics, philosophy, or public life, followed by a hands-on exercise and an open, facilitated discussion. Sit & Think is hosted by Dr Dmitry Zavialov.

The inaugural session, presented by Walk & Talk Auckland in partnership with the Ellen Melville Centre, introduces a practical toolkit for reading rhetoric: how to spot when a message appeals to your reason, your emotions, or your trust in authority, and how to tell the difference between persuasion and manipulation. The tools we practise in this session are the same ones we will use to hold ourselves to a higher standard of conversation in every session that follows.

No prior knowledge required. No prep, no reading. Just bring your curiosity and your willingness to think. Places are limited; make sure to RSVP.

How the room works

Disagreement is welcome. Dominance is not. You do not need to agree with anyone, but we ask that you disagree with the idea, not the person; that you listen before you respond; and that you make room for voices other than your own. This is not a debate, and there is no winner. If you tend to speak a lot, practise holding back. If you tend to hold back, this is a room where your voice is wanted. The facilitator will step in if the conversation needs steering. That is the job, not a criticism of anyone.

📅 When: Saturday 25 July, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
📍 Where: Betty Wark Room, Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD
🎙️ Format: Short talk → group analysis → pair exercise → open discussion
💵 Cost: Free. Koha welcome.
♿ Access: Ground floor, accessible venue.
Presented by Walk & Talk Auckland in partnership with the Ellen Melville Centre.