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A heated debate

DangerMouse

Posted by DangerMouse about 1 year ago
Last active about 1 year ago 19 responses

I am unable to post on my original thread, I get as far as a pic of Mamfer and can scroll no further (and yes, I have tried!). I can read everything when I am not logged in though.

Ok, here is the state of play, last week was good fun and everyone wants to do it again. For starters we are going to meet every fortnight on Wednesday. Numbers will be restricted to between 6 and 8 so people don’t get frustrated at having the discussion move on before they have said their piece. I’ll handle arrangements like who is coming and reservations etc. If enough people are interested then I’ll organise for two groups, otherwise I’ll work things so that anyone who misses out gets invited next time (meanwhile try and be Stoic about it).

If you want to come along please message me direct (kudos most welcome!), I would like to keep this thread for information that everyone would find useful such as topics for discussion.

I would like to move our meetings from pub to pub so we can see some new places and it is fairer on people who live in different areas. Therefore keep the ideas for venues coming.

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19 responses

DangerMouse

Need some ideas of where to go for our get-together. Some topics would be nice too. Here are a couple to start with:

Metaphysics starter: Do holes exist? (look up the word “ontology”. My definition is that it is like an official philosophy dictionary of things that can be sensibly discussed, so, should holes be in our dictionary?)

Men and women are different. Our rights should reflect this.

Is it fair to discriminate on grounds of ability?

If we were living in “The Matrix”, would our actions, lives and experiences be worth any less than they are in the “real world”?

Posted about 1 year ago by DangerMouse

Rin

Keeping this thread for inspired topics and locations is not going too well is it? Not sure if I’ll make it this week, I’m a wee bit unwell. but out if interest, and if I am feeling better, who’s coming? Where is it going to be?

Posted about 1 year ago by Rin

Mamfer

God, that “are we in the Matrix?” conversation got me through many, many trolleyed evenings.

I am, of course, there with bells on. Have you decided on a venue yet?

Posted about 1 year ago by Mamfer

DangerMouse

Ok, I’ve booked us space in the funky bar here:

http://www.allstarlanes.co.uk

A bit different isn’t it? We’ve got it from 7:30, but for anyone who wants to roll up earlier I’ll probably be there for a while before that.

Mamf, I know what you mean about the Matrix question. To avoid going over old ground (‘cos who HASN’T had that conversation?!) I’d like to discuss what Neo and Trinity were talking about in the car on the way to see the Oracle. I don’t think I agree with what they said.

We should be about 8 strong give or take a sickly Rin.

Posted about 1 year ago by DangerMouse

Mamfer

7.30 tomorrow (7th) yeah? Top job.

Posted about 1 year ago by Mamfer

pottytimepremium online

Sounds great. Are we in the ‘private’ room? I was going to suggest a topic, based on one of the LBLers: “Is sleep diagonal?” because I thought it was a suitably poncy meaningless philosophical question but then I realised it actually was “I sleep diagonal” which, unless we want to debate about this person’s sleeping habits, isn’t really appropriate.

Oh – other topics – was 9/11 staged by the US? Are the Royal family and various other people really 6-dimensional lizard beings who take part in child sacrifices? Should voting be restricted only to people above a certain intelligence level?

Posted about 1 year ago by pottytime

flippypremium

I’m going to be terribly out of my depth. I get confused easily, you see. As long as no Scientologists are coming, I’ll probably survive.

Posted about 1 year ago by flippy

flippypremium

Also, some way of recognising the group would be useful. Do we have a certain table, or is everyone eccentrically dressed. I left my metal pyramid hat at home today.

Posted about 1 year ago by flippy

DangerMouse

I’m trying to keep control of numbers, so if we haven’t been in direct contact please don’t come. If you’re interested in future get-togethers please get in touch, but so that everyone can have their say numbers need to be 8 or fewer.

I am willing to discuss such things as 6-dimensional lizard beings, but you need to prove a couple of things. Firstly that under your last question you would stand a reasonable probability of suffrage, and secondly that it is a subject that would benefit from discussion. I believe that there is only one real proponent of the lizard theory, but that does not mean that we should not discard the possibility of its truth. However, I would suggest that there are other questions relating to the monarchy which are more likely to elicit argumentation beyond “They are”, “They are not”.

We are not getting together simply to come up with “suitably poncy meaningless philosophical question[s]”. Anyone can take a quotation from Wittgenstein or Sartre and attach a question mark to it. This is an opportunity to socialise, learn a little and have satisfying conversations.

Posted about 1 year ago by DangerMouse

esotericbadger

You’ve convinced me now Mr. DM. Sounds like a very good policy, and I’ll plan to be at the next one.

Also, think you might have given yourself away… have you been illicitly posting on the anonymous thread about stalkers in the hope of eliciting some opprobrium?

Posted about 1 year ago by esotericbadger

plum

OH DON’T START ALL THAT AGAIN

[If it was you DM thank you for being so gracious about it. If indeed you were. I couldn’t tell, it was dark in there]

Posted about 1 year ago by plum

Rin

bowling? what inspired that as your choice of venue?

Posted about 1 year ago by Rin

Mamfer

(hic!)

Posted about 1 year ago by Mamfer

pottytimepremium online

Yay mamfer – glad to know you got home okay (unless you’re at some dodgy Internet Cafe!) It was great to meet you and the guys.

Posted about 1 year ago by pottytime

flippypremium

I enjoyed that, thanks for organising it DM. Was good to meet everyone, although 5 bottles of wine between 4 of us .. argle.

Posted about 1 year ago by flippy

DangerMouse

Right, got a location, just need some people who are free on Wednesday. Official kick off will be at 18.00, but I’ll be there earlier. I’ll send location details to thems what makes the cut. So, who’s up for some booze and talking?

Some suggested topics:

When should we invade another country? Should we shut down charities? Do we owe Africa an apology for the slave trade?

And finally…

Who will be the first against the wall when the revolution comes?

Posted about 1 year ago by DangerMouse

Mamfer

Unfortunately, I am doublebooked for Wednesday, but I will be there in spirit. Large glass of dry white please.

Posted about 1 year ago by Mamfer

DangerMouse

Sorry Mamf, you should know that a bottle is our shortest measure. When you start walking into things on Weds, that’s us drinking your bottle for you.

Who else is interested? More suggestions please

Cheers

DM

Posted about 1 year ago by DangerMouse

DangerMouse

Between job interviews, a formal dinner and an extended Easter, I’m not going to organise anything for the 4th or 11th of April. In the meantime I will mostly be (re)reading The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli. It is very short, easy to read and interesting, so if anyone would like to take the opportunity to give it a go, we can talk about some of the themes next time. It’ll also mean you can tick it off the list of books you feel that you really ought to read…but maybe next year!

DM

Posted about 1 year ago by DangerMouse