Would you help us find that question, the one that will direct the attention of thousands of participants around the world during Conversation Week 2008, March 24-30? Imagine a circle of eight thoughtful, sincere and inquiring people, ready to explore a stimulating and important question for the next 90 minutes. What question or questions would you suggest to such a willing group of minds and hearts?
Until February 12 people around the world will have a chance to submit their top three "most important questions in the world today." We invite your participation. Please take a few minutes to develop your top three questions for use in Conversation Week 2008. Choose a category for each question, and then type the question below. After completing the form, click the submit button at the bottom of the form.
Last year we developed the following guidance for what makes a good question. Use it as you craft yours be it for Conversation Week or for your ongoing Conversation Café or even for your mate when something is troubling you.
A good question for dialogue is:
-
Open, without embedded cultural, political or ideological assumptions.
-
Inviting both head and heart. People can respond with both their feelings and their thoughts.
-
Honest. It has not already been answered conclusively yet finding an answer is crucial to moving forward.
-
Experiential. People can if they choose tell a story or recall an experience that relates to the question.
-
Inclusive. Anyone at the table could have something valuable to say whatever age, race, gender, education level.
-
Generative. Cant be answered with a yes or no or a platitude.
-
Relevant. Even though broad, applies to many of the real issues we each and all face.
Here is a link to the 2007 set of questions .
We suggest you work a bit on your most important question in the world today before peeking at last year's because the very quest for a question will really work your dialogue muscles.