I’ve found it hard to remember how to play after having my kids, and wonder why I ‘grew out’ of it. I’ve loved relearning it but it’s been hard. I think we’d probably be nicer to each other if we kept more of our sense of wonder and joy and curiosity.

Because life is short and I was considering how to make the most of my time here. Since learning holds a large part of the value of living- at least in my eyes- I am wondering what knowledge I shall gain and share that will be most beneficial to me and my fellow earthlings.

I’m annoyed by the illogical and racist emails that I receive from friends whose parents or grandparents came here as so called economic migrants or refugees. Ever since people like Pauline Hanson have come on the scene I’ve seen a change in our culture. I’m sure most Australians don’t want to live in a racist country.

It concerns global warming and climate change. Others should care about it because it will be the end of the world if we don’t resolve the issue.

Can you tell us how we, the people, convince the United nations to act as a genuine force for good in the world by bringing together the might of the world’s most powerful nations to rectify, at its source, the trauma these individuals are enduring? Or can you suggest other ways we can act? I’m asking this question out of sheer frustration that we can do nothing more than be compassionate to the world’s victims AFTER the event. People power has achieved results before, so perhaps those caring people can do more now – but how?

How much is the mental health epidemic due to lack of meaning in contemporary society?
Why are there so many bored people resorting to (legal/illegal) drugs nowadays?
How can we expect people to think and make good decisions in times of crisis (eg.bushfire) when they have little experience of thinking and making decisions in every day life?
Individuals grow and develop when having the opportunity to work out problems with others.

Our society professes to be concerned about animal welfare but sanctions very different treatment of animals according to their perceived utility and the vested interests that benefit from their use. The law as it stands reflects this contradiction. As a result millions of animals suffer routinely, whether it be for live export, domestic agricultural use, feral animal control, research or entertainment purposes. Not even companion animals are immune from suffering; treated as disposable property and with little or no restriction on their breeding and sale, hundreds of thousands are euthanased every year in Australia. All of this is both inhumane and dishonest. Either we believe in the humane treatment of animals or we don’t. If the latter, let’s be honest about it; if the former, we need significant legal change. A good start would be the creation of independent statutory bodies to administer and enforce animal welfare laws instead of the current primary industries departments with their conflicts of interest.

If someone steals something they are arrested but if someone sends in troupes under dubious pretence killing thousands of civilians, ruining the lives of their own combatants why is it that they just float off to a life of ease? Shouldn’t high office hold high accountability. There must be factors that give them immunity. What are they?

We often have a choice between doing what we know is right, and doing what will gratify or benefit ourselves (even at the expense of others). So, why be good?

Climate change and the arts are two prime examples of areas where seems difficult to apply this metric-based approach. I am curious about alternatives. What if everyone had a smartphone? Could we something radically different emerge?

As a constantly-lapsing vegetarian, I am interested in both the science and philosophy of meat. I know many others are too.

(In Memoriam Lewis Carroll.)

Because I know far too many asexual people damaged by prejudice and discrimination not only in everyday life, but by health professionals attempt to ‘cure’ their natural sexual orientation.