About us
Join us for lively discussions on current affairs, philosophy, medicine, humanitarianism, and wellbeing at our Think and Drink Meetup. We are a group that enjoys talking about exploring different perspectives, and seeking to make a positive impact on the world. We also love craft beer and food pairing, so come eat, drink, dance, and socialize with us as we delve into thought-provoking topics and enjoy great company.
Let's raise a glass to stimulating conversations and good times!
Upcoming events
4
Topic: The Value of Optimism/Pessimism
The Workman's Friend, 1531 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205, Charlotte, NC, USAre you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of ... your life? the country? the world?
Is it "getting better all the time," as the Beatles sang? (Or is that only because "it can't get any worse"?) Do you have "a feeling '26 is gonna be a good year," or do you have "no reason to be over-optimistic?" (The Who)
Do you think it's good and helpful to be optimistic? Or to be pessimistic? Or a bit of both? How do hope and realism factor in?
There's research that shows that optimism is beneficial for well-being, but that too much optimism is detrimental to responding appropriately in real crises. Here is an article with a graph tracking global optimism/pessimism, though it specifically seems to have markets (and perhaps climate change) in mind: https://trellis.net/article/mapping-global-optimism-pessimism-2026/
Come join us to listen and share your thoughts!
Cheers!1 attendee
Topic: Paranormal Activity
The Workman's Friend, 1531 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205, Charlotte, NC, USAn enormous amount of people claim to have experiences related to ghosts or other spiritual beings. The statistics I came across say that 75% of Americans believe in the paranormal (http://news.gallup.com/poll/16915/three-four-americans-believe-paranormal.aspx), while 18% claim to have seen a ghost (http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/30/18-of-americans-say-theyve-seen-a-ghost/). And this is not at all unique to the U.S. The startling thing is how common these experiences are across cultures.
What are these experiences? Maybe you've had such an experience and would share your ghost story. Or are you someone who believes it can all be scientifically explained? If so, what accounts for so many people believing in the paranormal? Is there a spiritual realm beyond what our eyes can usually see?A couple of resources:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/why-do-people-believe-in-ghosts/379072/
https://www.livescience.com/14904-paranormal-experiences-hint-ghosts.html1 attendee
Topic: The Rise of Anxiety
Location not specified yetThere has been a lot of discussion over the last several years about the rise of anxiety in the US. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as "an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure." Anxiety seems to have become the defining emotion of the age, whether it's economic anxiety, social anxiety, career anxiety, etc.
What is leading to this rise in anxiety? How is it impacting individuals, communities, and the nation? Do you see anxiety as a growing issue? How do you see anxiety manifesting itself in our broader culture? What might be some potential solutions to this rise in anxiety?
A couple of interesting reads to frame the conversation:https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/10/style/anxiety-is-the-new-depression-xanax.html
https://theconversation.com/americans-are-more-anxious-than-before-96318
Hope you can join us!
1 attendee
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