Turning Discussions to Actions: A Questions That Matter / Wamotopia Lunch

As part of Questions That Matter’s participation in Wamoptopia 2026 (https://app.sola.day/group/wamo2026) we are having a Lunch Get Together/Discussion this week on Turning Discussions to Actions.

In keeping with the “Shared Reality” theme of Wamotopia, we’re going to explore ways we can improve our ability to go “From Discussion to Action.”

This might be a bit harder than it sounds, because in intellectual circles, conversation often disguises itself as progress. Psychologists suggest that talking about a problem releases the same dopamine as solving it—meaning we often feel virtuous just for having a specific opinion. And it also seems that in some ways, discussion itself can get in the way of us taking actions.

However, there is a counter-argument: Resilience is a verb.
We often mistake 'action' for outward activism, but building a network that can withstand chaos can be an act of defiance or progress in and of itself. By hardening the connections in a group discussion and learning to engage without disconnecting, we are building the necessary social bonds that almost any future solution might require to survive.

For this, our Wamotopia lunch discussion, we plan to start out asking anyone present to contribute ideas that they may have on the topic and then we’ll jump right into a spontaneous back and forth.

We’ll also bring to the table some additional ideas and prompts including:

1. A Welcome Lunch Icebreaker:
Turn to the person on either side of you and ask, what's one idea sitting in the back of your mind—could be a project, a habit, a change you want to make—that you keep not starting? What's the real barrier to taking action? 2 minutes in each direction.

2. Does a "Group of Thinkers" need a shared project to keep them grounded, or to some degree, is the conversation itself the value?

3. How might a group discussion prioritize action-oriented conversation over problem analysis?

4. Including So What suggestions:
Trigger: Someone goes on a long, eloquent rant about the state of the world.
The Move: That is all true. So what do we do about it?

5. Time Out for Definitions:
The Trigger in the Discussion: The table is arguing in circles about 'Freedom' or 'Woke.'
The Move: Time out. We are using that word a lot. Before we continue, can three people give their distinct, one-sentence definition of that word?

6. Time Out for Definitions:
Trigger: The table is arguing in circles about 'Freedom' or 'Woke.'
The Move: "Time out. We are using that word a lot. Before we continue, can three people give their distinct, one-sentence definition of that word?

7. The Switch (which anyone can call for, once or twice a night):
The Trigger in the Discussion: Two people are locked in a repetitive debate.
The Move: Pause. Ken, make Sarah's argument for her. Sarah, make Ken’s argument for him. You have 60 seconds. Make the best case for the side you’re against.

8. The Silent 60 seconds (For Depth) Trigger:
A profound point is made, and someone immediately jumps in with a joke or anecdote.
The Move: That was a heavy point. Let’s actually hold that silently for a minute before moving on. Let’s let it sink in and potentially impact how this conversation evolves.

9. "Of everything we've discussed, what's ONE thing we could commit to trying in the next month? Not forever, just once. What's the smallest viable action?"

Our Questions That Matter/Wamotopia Lunch is going to take place at Happy Allergy Bakery at 12.30. We look forward to seeing you, everyone is welcome!

As is normal at Questions that Matter, the goal isn’t simply to agree, disagree, or learn. It’s also to connect through genuine, lively, interactive discussion and, potentially, to go to some of the unexpected and uncharted places that deep and free conversation can take us.

Whether you’re in Chiang Mai for a short visit or you’re a longer-term expat or resident, we hope you can join us, not only in exploring the deeper questions but in making new connections and friendships through the discussion.

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