What we’re about
Do you like interesting conversation? Do you sometimes read an article or see a news story and want to delve more into the topic and discuss? We are a Dinner and Discussion Meetup that explores current events and topics.
Every month, we will post links to a few articles/web pages, usually news stories, to discuss at dinner. Members are encouraged to suggest topics and articles as well! People should read these articles (and other sources if they so wish) and come and have dinner to discuss them. The intent is that the readings will take about one or two hours to get through. The monthly event will generally be on Sunday evenings to give people time during the weekend to do the reading. The discussions are aimed to be friendly and respectful. The idea is to be like a book club, but with far more modest demands on peoples' time. RSVP's will be limited to 8-10 depending on venue.
There will also be a focus on having meals from a variety of cuisines (American, BBQ, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Greek etc.). We will go to restaurants that do separate checks. Specific information about the price of a restaurant (if not a link to an online menu) will be provided.
Please note, since the group's goal is to discuss interesting social/political topics/events and seating is limited. A photo and name are encouraged (whether it is your legal or nickname). The group is intended to be a social event while engaging in current topics. I like variety in friends and newsfeed, so I don't get stuck in a social echo-chamber and stay uninformed. I hope to find others who feel the same.
Lastly, the group will stay away from highly sensitive/incendiary topics (i.e., reproductive rights, social justice). While those topics are important, the primary goal is to provide thought provoking social events - not push agendas one way or another.
SAMPLE TOPICS
Happiness
Our culture programs people to be unhappy. Whenever we achieve a goal, we are quick to set our sights on the next highest level, always pushing happiness out of reach. It's like the Bruce Springsteen song:
"Poor man wanna be rich,
Rich man wanna be king,
King ain't satisfied,
'Til he rules everything.".
A good majority of people in the United States are enjoying a standard of living and comfort that is hard for a large share of the human race to even approach, but so many of us are unsatisfied.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M](Happiness)
Dating
[What is 'the triangle method'? How to up your flirting game (usatoday.com)](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/07/06/the-triangle-method-flirting-dating/70360375007/?gnt-cfr=1)
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The Fentanyl Crisis
How fentanyl became an American crisis – The Hill
[If fentanyl is so deadly, why do drug dealers use it to lace illicit drugs? - ABC News (go.com)](https://abcnews.go.com/Health/fentanyl-deadly-drug-dealers-lace-illicit-drugs/story?id=96827602)
[4 Are Charged in Overdose Death of Michael K. Williams - The New York Times (nytimes.com)](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/nyregion/michael-k-williams-death-arrest.html)
Game Theory v. Capitalism
The first essay argues that game theory shows that capitalism is prone to market failure, and therefore is not a good system.
There are two decision-making systems that are currently being considered:
- economic markets
- democratic decision-making via voting
While various forms of market failure, such as companies promoting addicting products, can be countered with regulation, there are similar failures in the political system:
- Tribalism -- people coalesce into warring tribes, and adopt political positions as badges of tribal identity, rather than arriving upon them through reason. This can even lead to people deliberately assuming positions just to disagree with opposing tribes, rather than being motivated by anything appealing about the position taken.
- Virtue-signaling -- people try to paint themselves as having "hearts of gold" by following the shortest path to a simplistic moral superiority, refusing to examine the full (often disastrous) consequences of the policies they advocate**.**
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