Cleaning out years-old emails, I found a complaint from someone who felt that the topics of a discussion group were not serious enough.
Here’s the original message:
I expressed to many of you today that i thought the mix of discussion group subjects lately had become way too bland and ‘milk toast’, in light of what is going on around us, everywhere. Topics like memorable vacation experiences, my favorite cruise line, favorite movies, the joys of macrame (?) are so miniscule to deeper and more serious issues confronting us all, geo-politically, culturally,
economically, legally, environmentally, wars and mass migrations, etc. Each week we nominate topic proposals to discuss and then a vote is taken to select just one topic.
I think that DG participants should endeavor to suggest more serious topics.
And here is my response:
Agree – and I trust that Mr. ____ himself has been doing his part to suggest the serious topics he craves.
That said, ANY topic can be used to discuss one’s own deep passions and concerns.
For example, I would use “macrame” to discuss the value of quiet hobbies that induce a peaceful meditative state in the participant and can be a tool for addressing mental-health issues.
I’d also talk about how my grandmothers taught me to sew, knit, and crochet, and how deeply beneficial it has been to my life in so many ways.
And I would use “cruise ships” to talk about gluttony, hyperconsumerism, carbon footprint, and the infantilization of our elder population.
BTW my favorite cruise line would be one that either goes out of business, or uses sailboats or kayaks!
This group email exchange was from back in 2021. Reading it again just now, it occurs to me that many people in USA society have only become even more emotionally fragile over the years. Therefore, many might actually be resistant to more serious topics.
And so it occurs to me that it might actually be a good strategy to choose innocuous topics like macramé, my beloved animal companion, my favorite childhood memory, etc. People can stick to the topic if they prefer, while those who want to go deeper can use the topic as an on-ramp or springboard. And even the people who don’t want to go deep will still end up hearing some deep discussion (assuming they don’t get really upset and walk out of the room).