Discuss & Social: The loneliness epidemic, the fear of strangers & the far right

Make new friends and chat about everything from daily life to big world issues in our no-judgment space. This week's topic: Many blame the loneliness epidemic on too much online time and say the solution is more in-person clubs/meetups or digital detoxes. But are we ignoring its root causes? Philosopher Hannah Arendt warned that isolation is linked to divisive politics; and the last decade brought us Brexit, anti-Diversity influencers, online echo chambers... everyone has become more suspicious of each other. Can making a few friends really cure loneliness while social media keeps telling us not to trust people who think or look different? We'll discuss...

1. Is loneliness caused only by spending too much time online or by specific narratives that make us more suspicious, anxious and vigilant of people who are different?
2. Can hobby groups and meetups fix isolation when while we avoid people who look or think differently?
3. Who profits from all the loneliness and division in society?

Skip the small talk and join a room of global minds and cosmopolitans for our weekly conversation lounge. Find meaningful and international perspectives on modern culture, relationships, and society. No expertise needed - just an open mind and your life experiences. Come for the perspectives. Stay for the connections.

🍸 THE VIBE

Curated Conversations: Thoughtful, intriguing, and deep. It's more about our personal journeys and lived experiences, less about academic point-scoring.
Cinematic Backdrop: Hosted in a moody lounge perfect for late-night drinks and cozy conversation.
Fluid Mingling: A balance of guided group discussions and casual socializing over drinks.
A Global Collective: Connect with international graduates, London's creatives, open-minded travelers, etc.

🕒 THE RUN SHEET

19:30 – 20:00 | The Warm Up: Arrive, grab a cocktail, and chat casually as everyone settles into the lounge..
20:00 – 21:30 | The Discussion Circles: We move into our hosted conversation circles. We shuffle groups so you meet new faces.
21:30 – Late | The After-Chat: Shift to casual socializing. The lounge bar stays open late for socialising and drinks.

📜 OUR DISCUSSION CODE (rules of engagement)

1. Curiosity over judgement: We're here to explore how different people think. Listen, ask questions, learn from each other. Every view is a puzzle and we want to understand all angles without judging the people who bring them.
2. Respect the mic: This is a shared space, not a soapboxing stage. Give everyone a chance to speak.
3. Don't take it personally: We can explore different views while remaining completely kind and respectful to the people sharing them.
4. Be Present: We put our phones away during the conversation to truly connect with the people around us.

📍 THE LOGISTICS

Where: The lounge bar/cafe at Curzon Aldgate, 2 Canter Way, E1 8PS.
Entry: Free to join the discussion. The bar/cafe requests all guests to order drinks or snacks - we ask everyone is to spend minimum £4 as soon as you arrive..
Dress Code: Smart/City Casual
Transport: Aldgate East, Aldgate, Tower Hill/Gateway stations are all within a 5-minute walk.

✅ "Pending approval" to group? Please wait until you are approved as we're balancing participants across different channel pools.

IMPORTANT: Our events are 100% free and volunteer-run, but we gather at a fantastic café that expects all guests to purchase food or drink - we ask everyone to buy at least £4 worth of food/drink (e.g. a tea, coffee, drink and snack) after you arrive. It's not allowed to bring outside food or drinks.

🌎 ABOUT US
World Citizens is London's premier cosmopolitan collective. For over 15 years, we have curated high-vibe spaces, salon discussions, and cultural mixers for global minds, young professionals, and international expats living in the capital.

\Our other weekly events\
- Friday evening socials every week
- Cafe tour around London every Saturday
- Canary Wharf socials every other Wednesday
- Outdoor fun (hiking\, kayaking\, etc) every weekend
- Dining\, cultural and travel activities on-demand

JOIN OUR TEAM!
We're all volunteers, so if you enjoy organizing activities or events in your spare time, while meeting great people every week, send a message to our team account "TP"!

DISCLAIMER
We are a 100% volunteer-run team. Though we have high standards in planning, this is a private informal activity so we cannot be liable for any damage or inconvenience. However, we put safety and comfort first. We take all complaints seriously, and take severe action against any harassment, verbal or non-verbal, and anti-social behaviour, towards our guests or team members. We collaborate with the police when needed. We take photos and videos which may include you to help promote the community in line with GDPR Data Protection law, as well as stock photos from Pexels or Unsplash. We may restrict or prioritize guests at our own discretion for safety, quality and logistics reasons. While our team's decisions may not be perfect we ask that you follow our decisions first and raise any disputes to discuss with us later and privately. By attending you understand, agree with and respect all terms of this disclaimer.