Bloom: Controversial Chats

Do you have spicy opinions? Discussing difficult topics respectfully helps us to break down our echo chambers, share understanding and promote deep thought. The goal is not to agree, but to effectively communicate with people who have different mindsets and opinions.

Join us

📅 Mon 5th Aug 2024
⌚ 5:30 pm – 7:30pm
🍷 Food and drinks provided
🎫 Free – Register now!

How does Controversial Chats work? Five chairs sit facing the rest of the room – four are filled with people who have something they want to say, the fifth sits empty. Time starts and everyone sitting on one of the chairs gets two minutes to share their thoughts on the chosen topic.

Anyone from the audience can come sit in the empty chair at any time. As soon as the fifth chair is filled someone sitting in one of the other four chairs must leave their seat and join the audience. The fifth chair must always remain empty as an invitation to voices we may not have heard from.

Rules of engagement:

1. Be respectful – criticise the idea, not the individual
2. Stick to the idea – discuss the issue not your perception of it
3. Everyone gets a go – respect their time
4. Use I statements – feelings not facts
5. Find common ground – look for points of agreement