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Good morning to you. I have awakened on this Saturday morning determined to find ways to meet other intellectual types in the suburbs.
We live in a bourgeoisie suburb of the sunny Southwest. Our neighbors are pleasant people; we've made a few friends with other couples in the area. But these connections are deficient in intellectual discourse. It seems as if suburban Americana lends itself to more glib relationships, leaving us feeling intellectually underwhelmed.
I would so enjoy an occasional intelligent, civil tête-a-tête, even if such a discussion must take place at a local suburban cliché such as a Starbucks patio.
My dearest wife and I so desire an evening of polite, educated company, yet we often find that discussions with others wander toward plebian topics such as ridiculous celebrity escapades and other trivial banter.
Our intellectual backgrounds often conflict with religion, and although we could attend a local service at a house of worship of some kind, we would rather not be forced to assume counterfeit pretenses for the purpose of meeting others.
Have you any suggestions about how we should proceed with meeting others like ourselves, in the rather spurious suburban culture of the Southwest?
OP, I do understand where you are coming from. Your written post makes you look like a pompous jerk. It would be a turn off to a lot of people.
In all honesty, you probably need to go find some hobbies that you like. Join some clubs and meet some people with some similar interests. I can't say celebrities or church won't still come up in discussion on occasion, but there will at least the topic at hand such as your hobby that you like.
I opened this thread with interest, as I've had the same thought.
But I would rather forego intellectual discussions altogether than attempt to find common ground with someone as pompous as the OP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HighFlyingBird
Perhaps drop the attitude that just because someone has children, believes in God or is into sports, they aren't intellectual. People avoid deeper conversations in early encounters to be polite. Find someone who doesn't have that filter to banter with. Or try to stop looking down your nose at them and get to know them on a deeper level.
^^^agree...and Willow wind gave the OP excellent examples. The OP hasn't responded but I would
recommend he read the link. One good quote from this link is: "He was so learned that he could
name a horse in 9 languages; so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on." (Ben Franklin).
Good morning to you. I have awakened on this Saturday morning determined to find ways to meet other intellectual types in the suburbs.
We live in a bourgeoisie suburb of the sunny Southwest. Our neighbors are pleasant people; we've made a few friends with other couples in the area. But these connections are deficient in intellectual discourse. It seems as if suburban Americana lends itself to more glib relationships, leaving us feeling intellectually underwhelmed.
I would so enjoy an occasional intelligent, civil tête-a-tête, even if such a discussion must take place at a local suburban cliché such as a Starbucks patio.
My dearest wife and I so desire an evening of polite, educated company, yet we often find that discussions with others wander toward plebian topics such as ridiculous celebrity escapades and other trivial banter.
Our intellectual backgrounds often conflict with religion, and although we could attend a local service at a house of worship of some kind, we would rather not be forced to assume counterfeit pretenses for the purpose of meeting others.
Have you any suggestions about how we should proceed with meeting others like ourselves, in the rather spurious suburban culture of the Southwest?
Do you have a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship? UUs tend to be highly intellectual and well educated.
They have various views when it comes to God. Some are agnostic, atheist, and others spiritual in a rather lose way.
You would not be forced or coerced into pretending to believe something that you do not.
They spend as much or more time involved with intellectual, artistic and social issues as they do ethical and spiritual ones.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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Actually you'll find 'smart' folks almost anywhere, though sometimes they may feel they have to 'hide' it, depending on the local 'culture'. Have met some pretty smart rednecks, and also some pretty ignorant college grads, so it kinda depends on your idea of "intellectual". But regardless, smart (or otherwise), almost everyone will eventually open up a bit once they recognize that you're really curious about them… and not simply looking for an excuse to impress 'em with your own 'smarts'!
BTW, if "meeting intellectual people" is such a priority, why choose to live in what you consider the "spurious suburban culture of the Southwest" in the first place?
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