The Battle of Ideas

by Startacus Admin

I am not too sure about you, but when I was at school, I did love a good old classroom debate.

Often initiated in one of those personal social education lessons, ( was that what it was called?), the debating of ideas and issues made an otherwise sterile school day seem just that little bit better. How else could you get that teenage angst out, when schooling offered you little chance to let your voice be legitimately heard?

That is why, when we heard about the 8th Battle of Ideas Festival, we just had to give it a shout out. Happening on the 20th and 21st October, at the London Barbican, this is a Festival that is all about thought provoking, idea-making debate, discussing, agreeing and disagreeing on the key issues that face society.

In a society that often gets lost in translation, and struggles to collectively find much to talk about, apart from celebratory sandal and the x-factor finals, it is encouraging to see that an around the table and free to speak culture has not been entirely lost.

With 80 sessions, 350 speakers, and over 2000 attendees expected, debates and ideas will be discussed on topics such as ‘The Poppy - to wear or not to wear’, ‘Is Europe Boring?’ ‘What makes a good Journalist anyway?’ and ‘Racism - Alive and Kicking?’. It is good to see that the tough subjects we often avoid talking about, are being discussed. To be fair, we could have picked out another 76 ideas worth discussing that the Festival will air.

We love the idea of the Battle of Ideas, so hope that this years Festival rocks.

However, it should not necessarily take a Festival to get people talking, debating and idea making. Perhap this evening around the dinner table, or tomorrow at college, we can all do the same; and get battling about the big ideas.

After all, Startacus truly believes that ideas can make all the difference, and we are all the better for battling together, than we are on our own.

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By the way...did we tell you that you're looking rather splendid today?

 

Published on: 10th October 2012