Discussion

24 March

16:00 - 18:00

Centro Social Javea

 ChatGPT – should we be wary of it or embrace it?

Plaza de la Constitución, Javea

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The Discussion Group is a very informal gathering of people who meet to discuss a topic which is usually chosen by those attending the previous month’s discussion. Anyone can suggest a topic and if the majority agree then that is what we will discuss at the next meeting. This gives everyone some 4 weeks to do whatever research they wish on the topic before the meeting.

The discussions are carried out in a friendly and respectful manner and everyone is given time to state their views. No-one needs to speak if they prefer not to. You can just sit and listen to the thoughts and ideas of others, but you will be surprised how often you do have an opinion you want to voice. Whilst we may not ‘put the world to rights’ the exchange of ideas and information is often really stimulating for your mind.

We usually average around 12-15 members at each meeting and welcome people to join our group. If you have an opinion and want to share it, we want to hear it.

If you wish to join or require any information on this group, please contact the Group Leader on the email address above.

Previous discussion topics have been:

Why are some states able to ignore International Law and suffer no punishment?

Last Friday of the month, the 24th of February, we had a second meeting this year. Our last discussion meeting of 2022 was about Russian refugees fleeing mobilization and if they should be allowed entry to shelter in European countries. That discussion touched on the subject of International Laws and their implementation regarding migrants from all countries. This time we wanted to elaborate more on International laws and discuss why ...
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If you could time travel to another age where, when and why?

Last Friday of the month, the 27th of January, 12 people came to the Discussion Group's first meeting in 2023. We decided to start the new season with something light and enjoyable. Hence, the topic was selected and it looked like an easy go, no thorough research was needed. The travel could be for a short visit, a week or so, or maybe to stay there.  You would have the ...
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Should Europe, which is united against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, shelter Russians fleeing mobilisation?

As usual, the Discussion Group had a meeting on the last Friday of the month, 25th November, which was the final discussion for this year. There were 12 members of the group discussing the subject today. The member of the Group who proposed the topic, according to the established practice, led the discussion. He started by giving an indication of the different sources of information he used for his research ...
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Does travel really broaden the mind or do we simply take our preconceptions with us?

Last Friday of the month, 25 of October, 14 members of the Discussion Group talked about travelling. Felicity led the topic which was not as simple and easy as it appeared. The general view normally is that travelling broadens the mind and helps us better understand people living in foreign countries. But during our discussion, it appeared that might not be the case. One of the first comments was that ...
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“What are fallacies? Can you spot them?” 

Friday, 23d of September, the Discussion group had its first autumn meeting. As a one-off, it was held a week earlier and not as usual on the last Friday of the month. Members of the group discussed fallacies and how interesting and important is to notice them in the daily world of information surrounding us. But first of all a little bit about the definition of a fallacy. As with ...
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Climate change, what do we really know about it?

As every last Friday of the month, we had a meeting on the 24th of June. Because of holidays, Javea Social Centre was closed, therefore as an exception, the Discussion Group met at the Parador Hotel. It was a round-table discussion without a specific person to lead it but with the group leaders as moderators Any discussion becomes more interesting (and informative) when presented with different points of view, preferably ...
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IMAGINATOR

Last Friday, 27 May, the Discussion Group meeting was held in a different format based on IMAGINATOR cards, which are designed on the open mindset concept. We had 12 people taking part in this game It uses a pack of cards with pictures of shapes/symbols etc and people simply said what they saw when looking at the picture using their imagination about whatever the shapes/symbols said to their mind. Then ...
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Have we learned the lessons of history

Last Friday of the month, 29th April we had another Discussion Group meeting, which was attended by 13 people. The topic was very broad and multi-faceted, touching on subjects of the clash of great powers, hegemony, the Monroe doctrine ( it is the US foreign policy that covers all Western Hemisphere as its direct area of influence), and the Versailles treaty, which according to many historians led to the Second ...
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The growth of off-limit topics at schools: No talking about racism, gender, or communism.

On the last Friday of the month, 25th March, the Discussion Group held a meeting at the Parador Hotel which was attended by 10 people. The discussion started with Jeff's introduction to the topic. The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials: the material was considered to be 'sexually explicit', the material contained 'offensive language', the material was 'unsuited to any age group'. Jeff mentioned such books ...
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2020/21

How dangerous is it to interfere in other countries elections?

Why are people so irresponsible about their health?

Big Business – is it harmful to the planet?

The silence of others – forgetting.

Nationalism & Populism.

Spain – political history

How not to be ignorant about the World.

Covid, vaccines and politics.

Gender – what’s it all about?

Afghanistan – what has the West learnt from the last 20 years?

2019

• The benefits of multiculturalism – are there any?
• Is free speech in jeopardy?
• Is it okay to pursue something honourable by dishonest means?
• Should prostitution be legal?
• Genetic modification – is it beneficial?
• Is Misogyny a hate crime?
• How dangerous is it to meddle in other countries elections?
• Religion and Spirituality – what are they and what is the difference?
• How can we resolve the migrant crisis which is escalating in many countries around the World?
• Are we at, approaching or beyond the tipping point of the Planet’s survival as it is related to ‘Global Warming’?

2018

• Is Western civilisation at an end?
• Is religion a valid philosophy?
• Is there a place for activism in today’s World?
• The geopolitics of the Gregorian Calendar.
• Plastic is destroying the Planet – what are the solutions?
• Have values changed in the modern world?
• The Spectacular rise of China – should we welcome it or should we be worried.?
• Is the digitalised world leading to a work compliant society?
• Are there sociological effects from having a cell phone?
• Gun laws in the USA – why do so many people feel the need to own a gun? Why is the NRA so powerful?