Conversare – a beginning look on how experience of F2F connecting may happen among people living in high rise apartments

A brief review:

In the fun and enjoyable Conversare events everybody present has the opportunity to engage in lively conversation and to recognise the vital importance of doing more of this in their personal lives.

In venues which are comfortable, attractive – and secure in that entry is closed prior to the start.

Over a simple and delicious meal. After selecting their food all participants find a dinner partner –  someone previously not know to them, or not well – with whom to share a meal time.

Doing this is one of the actions indicated by the host. Who also brings to attention that “You are the right people to be here.” And “to give rather than get in the course of coming to share interest in each other.” Also “this is a rare opportunity to talk to someone in greater depth than what usually happens in everyday life.”

The underlying purpose of holding these events? Why would anyone come along to have a conversation over a meal with someone they had not met before?  And may not ever meet again.

Does the title naming of this kind of social gathering ‘ Conversare’ – from the Latin ‘to turn or to dance together’ give you a clue?

 

If these ideas interest you and give you the thought ‘There’s something here worth looking into‘ you may be delighted to know that there is more here for you to explore.

Starting with having a look at some of the many posts now available on this site. For example  here. And also at what participants in previous events have reported.

For now I want to touch briefly on an idea that my colleagues and I are currently addressing.

This is to do with a ‘phenomenon’ which is new to the city in which I live and work, Adelaide in South Australia. But which will be familiar to those of you who live in cities all over our little planet. As it was to me when my wife and I lived in Hong Kong for six years until 2011.

 

I refer to living in high rise apartments. Which, while has long been integral to the lives of many in other cities, is new to people here. For in less than a decade these apartments in the CBD (Central Business District) have gone from virtually zero to being plentiful.

And the idea we are now exploring? How to make the most of this new kind of living through identifying what residents feel is missing in their lives and what is needed to make the most?

This line of thinking will mean lively collaboration with people skilled in market research. And as you may appreciate from knowing about the core underpinnings of Conversare style get togethers  (smile) one possibility is creating contexts in which to have the experience of facilitated gatherings in which to meet F2F.

For as you would likely sense the input of a skilled facilitator helps greatly in enabling those present to better know – and be reminded of – the twin elements of being a careful, interested listener and associated questioner.

More on these ideas to come in future posts here.

In the meantime please know that you are warmly invited to send your comments on what you see on this post, and perhaps on what you notice in this blog more generally, via Contact.

In particular I would greatly welcome receiving your personal stories of living in apartments, what you feel is missing and what has or has not been done to encouraging more personal connecting among residents.  Just send them through Contact on convesare.net

Doing this will mean you could be notified about updates on developments which are now only just peeking over the horizon.

Looking forward.

Go well

Al (formerly Alan) Stewart, PhD
Social Artist
Facilitator of conversations that matter and participatory fun

Blog: Conversare
Web:Multimind Solutions

Member: National Trouble Makers Union

Residence: Adelaide, South Australia, since 1975
With time away in the USA (1981) and Hong Kong (2005-2011)  

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“Whenever we treat each other well good things happen.”
Al Stewart