In 1727, Benjamin Franklin convinced 12 of his friends to form a club, The Junto Society, dedicated to mutual improvement. Meeting one night a week, they discussed the topics of the day. The group lasted for 40 years and eventually became the nucleus of the American Philosophical Society.
Junto was a private forum for discussion and as an instrument for leading public opinion. One of the functions of the group was to brainstorm publicly beneficial ideas.
The results of the original Junto are still evident today as an integral part of American society. The Junto gave America its first library, volunteer fire departments, the first public hospital, police departments, paved streets and the University of Pennsylvania. They recommended books, shopkeepers, and friends to each other. They fostered self-improvement through discussions on topics related to philosophy, morals, economics, and politics.
Maybe I'm just an idealist with a history degree, but I believe that many people on these boards still carry this spirit - the spirit of self and public improvement - and hopefully this board will attract those with that spirit.
My hope is that this can be a thriving community of people that care about San Francisco and that it will include people af ALL political and cultural stripes. Ideally, this will be a meeting place where issues can be discussed without acrimony or intimidation while allowing a maximum amount of flexibility with what people are allowed to post.
Thanks,
-7
Junto was a private forum for discussion and as an instrument for leading public opinion. One of the functions of the group was to brainstorm publicly beneficial ideas.
The results of the original Junto are still evident today as an integral part of American society. The Junto gave America its first library, volunteer fire departments, the first public hospital, police departments, paved streets and the University of Pennsylvania. They recommended books, shopkeepers, and friends to each other. They fostered self-improvement through discussions on topics related to philosophy, morals, economics, and politics.
Maybe I'm just an idealist with a history degree, but I believe that many people on these boards still carry this spirit - the spirit of self and public improvement - and hopefully this board will attract those with that spirit.
My hope is that this can be a thriving community of people that care about San Francisco and that it will include people af ALL political and cultural stripes. Ideally, this will be a meeting place where issues can be discussed without acrimony or intimidation while allowing a maximum amount of flexibility with what people are allowed to post.
Thanks,
-7
