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-   -   Best place in Europe to argue? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/best-place-in-europe-to-argue-1644673/)

xcountry Jan 5th, 2018 07:56 AM

Best place in Europe to argue?
 
Aside from Speakers Corners is there someplace in Europe I can go to argue?

Gardyloo Jan 5th, 2018 08:10 AM

Room 12A. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxrbOVeRonQ

ribeirasacra Jan 5th, 2018 08:13 AM

https://youtu.be/kQFKtI6gn9Y

kerouac Jan 5th, 2018 08:14 AM

Fodor's Europe forum? Trip Advisor?

ribeirasacra Jan 5th, 2018 08:15 AM

three mins apart !!!

xcountry Jan 5th, 2018 08:19 AM

The Britons do come to mind. But I have experience that they can start swinging.

Surely there must be places when democracy has flourished, or something like that, where public speaking/arguing is encouraged? Gdańsk? Athens?

rialtogrl Jan 5th, 2018 08:50 AM

I've heard a lot of arguments in Venice. Usually about knowing where to go, being lost, or whether to take a gondola ride or not. Would that work for you? You have to bring your significant other to make this happen.

Belinda Jan 5th, 2018 08:52 AM

Come see me. I'll argue with you.

Masterphil Jan 5th, 2018 08:55 AM

"You don't want an argument!"

Christina Jan 5th, 2018 08:55 AM

It was trendy for a while in Paris to have "cafes philos" or a cafe philosophique (philosophy cafe). ONe was Les Phares at the Bastille place, where it started. Basically, there is a moderator who poses a philosophic question (or it may be chosen by group vote) and the group discusses it for and hour or two. So it's not a lecture but more a debate where everyone can express himself.

SO this was sort of a movement, there are some mostly in France but a few in other countries (one in London at the Institut Francais). I think there used to be one where I live (Washington DC) but not anymore. There are several in Paris, including still the Cafe des Phares. They have one in English in Paris at the Cafe de Flore on bd St Germain (you can find that on Meetup). The guy who ran the Phares website unfortunately died a few months ago so not sure what they are up to.

Nowadays I think Speakers Corner is on the internet, like Reddit.

IN fact, there is sort of a speakers corner in DC now, although not official. It's just north of the White House, Layfayette Square. But people are always standing out there with signs and pressing various causes, some are there every day.
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pr...he-white-house

they have a Speakers Corner in Singapore, you can apply to speak
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/speakers-c...plication-form

Leely2 Jan 5th, 2018 08:57 AM

Wherever you go, there you are.

BritishCaicos Jan 5th, 2018 09:00 AM

Try hiring a car in Sicily, the returns are always a forum.

Try raising the topic of the Icelandic no fish zone whilst drinking in a Reykjavik bar.

Malta, they are always argumentative with anyone but Brits.

Sit in a bar in Oslo and describe how you found Helsinki to be such a cultured and cosmopolitan city.

Not Belgium, they don't have the energy to argue.

Or rural Scotland, we have more guns per head than Baltimore, arguments can end painfully.

Actually, the best way to start an argument in most of Europe, is to drive like an Italian.

xcountry Jan 5th, 2018 09:03 AM

Wonderful ideas. I am tired of social media arguing where disagreeing is too easy.

And Fran Diavolo made me think of this when he told someone on the bull thread to read Hemingway. Imagine standing in front of the Acropolis and quoting Hemingway, who(m)ever he is? What a thrill.

"whether to take a gondola ride or not."

My wife fell in love with the gondolier - is that what they are called? The guy sang to her the entire time. She said she could switch just my ticket to an earlier flight home.

Belinda 6eme, no registration number?

blaire25 Jan 5th, 2018 09:06 AM

IS this a real thing?

Belinda Jan 5th, 2018 09:25 AM

You know I don't live in the 6eme. Hope a velo and head uphill!

See, we're already arguing! :-D

BigRuss Jan 5th, 2018 10:42 AM

<<Actually, the best way to start an argument in most of Europe, is to drive like an Italian.>>

Northern Italian - anywhere south of Milan they'll curse northern Italian drivers as "Tedeschi."

Tedeschi are Germans.

Fra_Diavolo Jan 5th, 2018 12:19 PM

>>>And Fran Diavolo made me think of this when he told someone on the bull thread to read Hemingway. Imagine standing in front of the Acropolis and quoting Hemingway, who(m)ever he is? What a thrill.<<<

¿Que?

xcountry Jan 5th, 2018 12:59 PM

WTH

Ok then - on the steps of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona. Looking down at the fountain. Exchanging ideas with others on the great issues of the day, like um independence for all.

The point is to get away from all this social media crap and back to the grand days of public debate. Face to face. Ten steps and turn.

Fra_Diavolo Jan 5th, 2018 01:14 PM

>>>WTH<<<

Watch a couple of episodes of Fawlty Towers and get back to me.

outwest Jan 5th, 2018 01:15 PM

I find that after an all night transatlantic flight in economy class almost everywhere is a good place to argue.

PalenQ Jan 5th, 2018 01:23 PM

Well just talk about politics, etc with any French person!

StCirq Jan 5th, 2018 01:31 PM

Our dinner table.

PalenQ Jan 5th, 2018 01:36 PM

Fodor's?

ribeirasacra Jan 5th, 2018 01:37 PM

France?
https://youtu.be/ffRqDOy2L1E

flanneruk Jan 5th, 2018 01:52 PM

Forget Speakers Corner. It had a role 50 (no, 70) years ago: now it's a weird tourist curiosity where people from dodgy countries come to watch something touted as free speech. Some British (if you're lucky) nutters wittering eccentricities: more often (I think) seriously unpleasant people from countries where nationalism means killing The Other.

To hear decent arguments: Radio 4 6-9 am every morning.

Nikki Jan 5th, 2018 03:44 PM

Let’s plan a get-together so we can all argue in person. We can start by arguing where and when to meet. My friends and family will all be relieved.

bilboburgler Jan 6th, 2018 05:39 AM

mention tipping on Fodors europe

xcountry Jan 6th, 2018 06:28 AM

Having argued this out with myself I have decided to turn my own question around and ask what is the worst place in Europe to argue. For me that would be Germany as, after my limited german is exhausted, I can't tell if Germans are telling me to go &*%$ myself or that they are thrilled to see me.

You need to be able to read who you are arguing with and I can't read Germans.

IMDonehere Jan 6th, 2018 10:34 AM

Go into a bar in Madrid and and yell "Independentisme català."

Uranus Jan 10th, 2018 01:42 PM

One of the worst places to argue: in the middle of a 180 degree turn on the Amalfi Coast. Did it recently.

kerouac Jan 10th, 2018 02:02 PM

Let's not forget that when "Freedom Fries" were invented, the French ambassador said "we don't really care what Americans call their potatoes."

follow_your_bliss Jan 12th, 2018 06:34 PM


Originally Posted by xcountry (Post 13170036)
Having argued this out with myself I have decided to turn my own question around and ask what is the worst place in Europe to argue. For me that would be Germany as, after my limited german is exhausted, I can't tell if Germans are telling me to go &*%$ myself or that they are thrilled to see me.

You need to be able to read who you are arguing with and I can't read Germans.

Then you’ve never driven the wrong way on the road to King Ludwig’s castle.

kja Jan 12th, 2018 11:57 PM

I could easily be mistaken, but I have the impression that the Valley of the Fallen still evokes quite a variety of opinions among people who are willing to express them – but I don’t know if people with different views actually exchange words (as required for debate or argument) or simply opine (loudly and with vehemence). If you mean debate (not necessarily argument), I heard some fascinating, and sometime heated, discussions about Turkish politics, and Greece’s approach to Turkey, while in Thessaloniki. (I can’t elaborate on their arguments, as my command of Greek was too limited.) Friends who have visited Lesbos in the past year or so spoke of the honest and painful discussions they overheard about how to deal with the then immigration crisis. And I trust you’re aware of otherchelebi’s observations of the “debates” and “arguments” in Istanbul.

Sue_xx_yy Jan 13th, 2018 04:51 PM


*****
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y


The classic Monty Python sketch

kja Jan 13th, 2018 05:05 PM

@ Sue_xx_yy: Priceless! Thank you SOoooo much! :star: :star: :star:

nukesafe Jan 13th, 2018 10:05 PM

If you were willing to pay for her tickets, my Mother-in-Law would meet you anyplace in Europe you would like, and that would automatically be the best place to argue. I am afraid you would be seriously mismatched, though.

Sue_xx_yy Jan 14th, 2018 04:51 AM


Originally Posted by kja (Post 16649329)
@ Sue_xx_yy: Priceless! Thank you SOoooo much! :star: :star: :star:

You are welcome, glad you enjoyed it too.

xcountry Jan 14th, 2018 05:00 AM

Let’s see, how can I say this without starting an argument.

It was great to see that video, again.

mcristi Jan 14th, 2018 06:46 AM

tripadvisor would be most known

barbrn Jan 14th, 2018 07:52 AM

This is arguably the best thread on Fodors right now.


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