What we’re about
This is a group for anyone interested in participating in thoughtful discussions about big ideas. Based in Midtown Memphis, we host two separate weekly groups, Reason Round Table, and Freethought Fridays Book Club. We welcome anyone who is intellectually curious and enjoys friendly, thoughtful, lively discussions and meeting other people who are engaged with diverse viewpoints and ideas.
Reason Round Table - A weekly discussion group that covers current events, science, government, philosophy, politics, economics, world affairs, religion, technology, art and everything in between. Reason Round Table meets every Wednesday for dinner, drinks, and discussion from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at Bayou Bar and Grill in Midtown Memphis. We have a new topic every week and keep a rolling list of 6 topics that are voted on at the end of each discussion. This group has been meeting every week for over 10 years.
Freethought Thursdays Book Club - A weekly book club group that meets every Thursday from 6:00 - 7:15 PM at Crosstown Concourse in Midtown Memphis. We alternate between fiction and non-fiction books and usually spend about 4-5 weeks to complete a book. We have previously read books such as: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, 10% Happier by Dan Harris, Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III, and Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. This group has been meeting every week for over 10 years.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Reason Round Table: A weekly discussion group for thoughtful, curious peopleBlue Monkey, Memphis, TN
NOTE:
- We will be meeting at Blue Monkey in Midtown on Madison Ave.
- We will start at 6:00 PM
To Intervene or Not to Intervene
Caring for and helping others is a core value in most religions and philosophies. Yet when someone tries to offer positive guidance—or even gentle criticism—in situations where it is clearly warranted, it is often met with disapproval or brushed off as judgmental.- When a young person shows up to a job interview poorly dressed or with a bad attitude, we’re told, “That’s their culture,” or, “Don’t be so judgmental.”
- If someone asks a homeless person to clean up trash around them, critics quickly jump in to defend the individual’s “rights.”
- Someone reminds a stranger to leash their dog in a public park or not smoke in a non-smoking area and is told: “You’re not the police—mind your business.”
- Pointing out waste, fraud, or abuse in programs like Social Security, Medicare, and welfare often triggers strong reactions from those who believe these programs should be above criticism.
Clearly, there are times when speaking up isn’t just acceptable—it’s necessary. The real question is: where do we draw the line between respectfully minding our own business and responsibly stepping in when there is legitimate cause to be concerned?
How to mind your own business
https://www.npr.org/2024/01/29/1199885917/how-to-mind-your-business-create-boundaries-family-friends?utm_source=chatgpt.comEthical policing and the duty to intervene
https://www.police1.com/law-enforcement-policies/ethical-policing-and-the-duty-to-interveneHow to Give Advice Without Seeming Patronizing
https://www.goalcast.com/how-to-give-advice-without-seeming-patronizing/
