There was likely a midwit-meme effect going on at the philosophy meetup, where, in order to distinguish themselves from the stereotypical sports-bar-goers, the attendees were forming their beliefs in ways that would never occur to a true “normie.” You might have a better experience interacting with “common people” in a setting where they aren’t self-selected for trying to demonstrate sophistication.
There was likely a midwit-meme effect going on at the philosophy meetup, where, in order to distinguish themselves from the stereotypical sports-bar-goers, the attendees were forming their beliefs in ways that would never occur to a true “normie.” You might have a better experience interacting with “common people” in a setting where they aren’t self-selected for trying to demonstrate sophistication.
It’s true. I’ve had better philosophical insights as the result of hanging out in bars than going to philosophy meetups.
Yeah my guess is also that the average philosophy meetup person is a lot more annoying than the average, I dunno, boardgames meetup person.