Those sorts of gatherings can go different ways, depending on the content, participants, and timing. I'm sure individual temperament plays a large role as well. At their best, they can be "mastermind"-like gatherings where you can achieve nonlinear leaps in understanding and insight through the participation of the collective (participatory knowing, a la John Vervaeke https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/202101/john-vervaeke-s-brilliant-4p3r-metatheory-cognition). At their worst, they can degenerate into hollow and smarmy affairs.
Scintillation Points
Those sorts of gatherings can go different ways, depending on the content, participants, and timing. I'm sure individual temperament plays a large role as well. At their best, they can be "mastermind"-like gatherings where you can achieve nonlinear leaps in understanding and insight through the participation of the collective (participatory knowing, a la John Vervaeke https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/202101/john-vervaeke-s-brilliant-4p3r-metatheory-cognition). At their worst, they can degenerate into hollow and smarmy affairs.