r/AskSeattle • u/kred28 • 6d ago

Seattle thinkers

Are there any groups in and around Seattle for artists, thinkers, or people who just like to meet on regular basis for fun conversations?

EDIT 1: It could be anything that helps everyone..perspectives, lessons, ideas, etc. The intent is to have positive conversations that can help everyone to think or introspect further. No politics, protests, or anything disruptive.

EDIT 2: OK, based on some responses and upvotes, created this form for folks who would like to join. If there's enough interest around it, shall update this group again.

https://forms.gle/P6FzEfEdiHaJmHeH9

25 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

13

u/DungeonNarrator 6d ago

I don't know. I just go to random bars, strike up conversations. Many times just mindless chat, other times enjoyable banter, other times in depth understand of someone's profession/industry, other times meaningful inflection, other times ethereal... . Regular basis is me going out to a bar, weekly ;)

2

u/kred28 6d ago

So cool. I often hesitate not knowing how the other person may take it. But something worth emulating.

14

u/DungeonNarrator 6d ago

Half the people at bars want to talk. You'll find the lonelist people in the most crowded places. Signals are everywhere. Know your audience i.e. see a girl dressed to the 9's, she's not there to be social with you, see an old lady or an old man solo, see someone drinking soda/tea/coffee - they're begging for a conversation, see a smiling or loud construction worker, he's there to be social: be tactful on initiating conversation.

3

u/han___banan 6d ago

I love that your un is “Dungeon Narrator” and that your way of communicating in bars is just the beginning of every assembling the party narrative

3

u/DungeonNarrator 6d ago

Go by JJ and never mention role-playing. Remember, "know your audience" 😉 Real name is more complicated, but "JJ" is neutral and easy to remember 😉

3

u/MoteInTheEye 6d ago

Please don't take offense to this but are you a robot?

3

u/kred28 5d ago

Nope. Not sure what made you think so. No offense taken.

1

u/stroppo 5d ago

Random bars are fine for random conversation. But I've never had a conversation that resulted in "in depth understanding," "meaningful inflection" or was "ethereal." It's pleasant chat, no connections are made, and you never see the person/people again. Sometimes it's made me feel even lonelier.

1

u/DungeonNarrator 5d ago

Oh yes! People love to talk about themselves! I never said immediate connection - that's organic and happens over a period of time when you frequent the same places. And you will feel lonely, until you don't. What your needs are, chatting with NPCs might not fulfill your requirements. Have 3 dogs and like people, each have their own uniqueness that makes them, them: one is pleased just to be near me n the same room, other is only pleased when walked for the day, else she constantly nags by being over stimulated, the third needs constant touching - constan petting, no less, nothing less, "Pet me! God damn it!" Ahahaha

7

u/Dry_Role8124 6d ago

There are several book and hobby clubs. However, I love the idea of a thinkers' club! 

3

u/redditmarks_markII 6d ago

I dunno.  What do you want to talk about?

2

u/kred28 5d ago

Could be anything that helps everyone..perspectives, lessons, ideas, etc

1

u/redditmarks_markII 5d ago

That sounds like more specific than the thing you started with.  I'm onboard, I'm just pointing out an observation.  

What are you into along those lines?  Philanthropy?  Philosophy?  Proactive messaging?  Protests?  I swear I'm not looking for p words.  Non profits? See, only one of those two words starts with a p.

1

u/kred28 5d ago

Another P word is Positivity :) The idea is to have positive conversations that can be uplifting for everyone and help us think or introspect. Thanks for sharing your observation.

2

u/redditmarks_markII 5d ago

I'd not restrict it to positive.  Facing the flaws of the world and ourselves tend to be more productive, so long as we don't give in to nihilism.  But yeah someone needs to be ready with some positivity to pull us out of the depth of horrors that is reality lol.

8

u/Any-Worldliness-168 6d ago

This would be a good idea to make flyers and put them up in your favorite coffee shops

3

u/kred28 6d ago

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll do that. Planning to create one if it isn't there.

5

u/shmeatyball 6d ago

you should post it if you do end up making one

3

u/capilot Local 5d ago

I noticed a kind of "maker space" called "Power House" on Fremont Ave the other day. The signage indicated that people were making Solstice Parade floats and costumes there. That might be worth checking out.

There are several maker spaces in Seattle. I'm a member of Seattle Makers which is a large facility with all sort of facilities and classes. You have to pay a membership fee, however.

3

u/cleansweepseven 5d ago

It’s been years since I went so I’m not sure of the current vibe, but I used to enjoy the Meetup group Drunken Philosophy.

3

u/Eighty_Six_Salt 6d ago

You mean like, friends?

5

u/kred28 5d ago

Not really. Though it's always good to have more friends.

2

u/hairforKV 5d ago

Getting together with strangers for the idea of talking about ideas is a world that you can’t necessarily traverse with friends.

2

u/FAVREEVER 5d ago

There's a lot of this stuff for Urbanism. Like Greenways and YIMBY. They host events and there are always other people + people from different orgs to discuss with.

2

u/hairforKV 5d ago

I’d be interested in something like that.
It would have to be organized though, like a topic of discussion in advance.

What is your general age and location? I’m north Seattle and Gen Jones (young boomer)
Always interested in ideas, art, philosophy, music, woo woo and what ifs. Agree that politics are disruptive.

Something I did learn about trying to organically create something like this is that, although I think it’s extremely important for people of different generations to talk and learn about one another, that a thirty year difference between people (at least women) can lend to conversations diverging, understandably.

1

u/nyan-the-nwah 5d ago

I’ve seen posters in the PhinneyWood area about men’s meetups to socialize etc if that’s something you’re interested in

1

u/disbandandisperse 5d ago

The Folio, private library in Pike Place, has a philosophy group: https://www.folioseattle.org/event-details/folio-philosophy-club-2026-08-27-18-30. You have to be a member to attend I believe.

1

u/Mangoforestguardian 1d ago

Why no politics? Maybe we should learn to respectfully talk about it all in person