Salon de Deixis Community Guidelines
Welcome to our intellectual community. These guidelines help us create meaningful dialogue where everyone can contribute and grow.
Our Philosophy
No Nihilism
We are a group focused on hope, purpose, change, growth, and action. We don't tolerate speech that promotes hopelessness or despair, as we've found it brings down the entire group dynamic. If you're personally struggling with these feelings, we want to support you individually—please talk to Bila or connect with fellow members outside the salon setting.
We gather to explore ideas with genuine curiosity, aiming our conversations toward understanding, growth, and constructive action.
How We Engage
Thoughtful Inquiry Over Empty Contrarianism
Questions drive our best conversations, and we welcome genuine curiosity. However, we ask that you avoid conjecture for the sake of personal intrigue or being contrarian just to stand out. When the group reaches a moment of understanding or unity on an issue, resist the urge to derail it with baseless speculation or skepticism introduced purely to redirect the conversation. This disrupts the collective thinking process and prevents us from building on shared insights. Unless you're an expert in the area or have substantive reasons for disagreement, let meaningful consensus moments breathe.
Learning Together
We value intellectual humility. The strongest contributors are those who can change their minds when presented with new evidence, who bring creative perspectives, and who balance passion with reason. We welcome people still developing these skills.
Honoring Our Guests
When guest speakers join us, we adjust our typically robust discussion style to be more respectful and focused. This means staying on topic, avoiding unnecessary confrontation, and showing appreciation for their expertise and time.
Practical Matters
Sober Engagement
Please attend all salons with a clear, sober mind. If someone appears visibly intoxicated, we'll kindly ask them to leave while ensuring they get home safely. No alcohol or drugs are allowed in the gallery whatsoever—this helps maintain the focused, respectful environment our discussions require.
Staying Present
Please step outside for phone calls. If discussions become heated between individuals, we encourage working through disagreements before leaving, either toward resolution or respectful acceptance of different viewpoints.
Beyond the News Cycle
Rather than rehashing daily politics or news, we prefer a deeper exploration of ideas. When current events are relevant, we ask that you come prepared with evidence to support your perspectives, recognizing how easily we can all be influenced by bias and algorithmic filtering.
Who Thrives at Salon de Deixis
Our most engaged members tend to be:
Open-minded and willing to have their perspectives challenged
Impassioned about ideas while remaining rational in discussion
Independent thinkers who aren't overly political or absorbed in daily news cycles
Creative and calculated in their approach to problems
Adaptable—able to change their mind with ease when presented with new information, evidence, and provable facts
Open to newness and unfamiliar concepts
Note on politics and current events: We recognize that propaganda, algorithm-driven content, and inherent bias are real challenges today. If you feel strongly about political topics, we ask that you come prepared with evidence and sources to support your claims rather than relying on talking points.
For Newcomers
These guidelines represent our aspirations rather than rigid rules. We understand that developing these qualities and learning to engage this way takes practice. Don't worry about embodying everything perfectly from day one—focus on bringing genuine curiosity, openness to other perspectives, and respect for the community.
Questions about these guidelines? Talk with Bilal Bikile or any regular attendee. We're here to help you find your place in our conversations.