This site is to be a safe space for dialogue.
Dialogue can...
...provide persuasive argument.
...promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
...be a narrative, philosophical or didactic device.
...create meaning and shared understanding.
Dialogue can simply be a conversation that encourages engagement.
With this site we hope to provide analysis and debate on topical issues that enriches us as people, but also impacts more widely by developing an audience that participates and grows the conversation. Here we will host conversations stemming from one contributor's proposition with others having a set period to craft their responses and advance the discussion. The original contributor can then reply and seek responses two more times before the conversation ends with either a reassertion of their now more firmly held proposition, or a declaration of a newly stated position, having been persuaded by other arguments. The discourse will not drag on indefinitely with the central theme lost through diversions and tangents; the exercise will be completed within a limited time frame - a sort of speed thought experiment.
The decision to begin this forum came from concern that too often conversations are dominated by the 'loudest' voices, be that as a result of money, power, age, gender, or any other quality of privilege. The women supporting conversations on this site recognise that our voices are not that of the 'other'. We do not comprise a minority group. We have a multiplicity of experiences and beliefs, interests and skills. We recognise that diversity is key to any dialogue creating real change in society. As such we encourage readers to become contributors. If you have something to say or a topic to propose, email us at this address.
For now, we are going to roll-out a series of biographic posts to introduce ourselves.
