Meetup : West LA—A Conversation About Conversations

How to get in: Go to the Westside Tavern in the upstairs Wine Bar (all ages welcome), located inside the Westside Pavillion on the second floor, right by the movie theaters. The entrance sign says "Lounge".

Parking is free for three hours, or for longer if you have ascended.

Discussion:

ＯＰＴＩＭＩＺＥ ＬＩＴＥＲＡＬＬＹ ＥＶＥＲＹＴＨＩＮＧ

—rejected t-shirt idea

We are going to talk about the way we talk about things. We are rationalists, and that means we make things, such as conversations, better than they are. When should we allow topics to drift? How do we determine who gets to speak, and when? How do we prevent useful technical discussions from decaying into talking about movies or the weather? What is the best topic? Why won't anyone listen to me? Where is everyone going? Come back!

Required reading:

• A commentary on Wiio's Laws

Recommended reading:

• How to always have interesting conversations
• Having useful conversations
• How to have high-value conversations
• Wait Culture vs. Interrupt Culture
• A Human's Guide to Words

No prior knowledge of or exposure to Less Wrong is necessary; this will be generally accessible.