What is The WELL?

Welcome to a gathering that's like none other — remarkably uninhibited, intelligent and iconoclastic.

The regulars in this place include noted authors, programmers, journalists, activists and other creative people who swap info, test their convictions and banter with one another in wide-ranging conversations.

The WELL, originally the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, provides a literate watering hole for some articulate and unpretentious thinkers. [more about The WELL...]

Fresh conversations

It makes the world go 'round
How has music guided human evolution? (Guests welcome)

Does size matter?
What separates "world-class" cities from those that are simply large? (Members only)

Following the money
Should government bailouts eliminate corporate reward travel? (Members only)

More discussions...

Membership is not for everyone: partly because we are non-anonymous here. This means that as a member, you know the names of the people you're talking with and they know you, leading to real relationships. Here's how to decide whether The WELL is for you, and whether you're for The WELL. [more on how to join...]

Alan Turner, landscape architect
The first conference I visit is News, which is mainly about what's going on around The WELL, but also has pointers to interesting news of the world. Then I move on to Media, which covers the public pulse so well I don't have to watch TV: the conference members there do it for me. For fun I like the Words conference. There's always a game or punfest going on, or some idiosyncratic discussion about punctuation. [more recommendations...]

Use the search box below to explore those goodies that are open for everybody to enjoy. Find FAQs, sites created by members and a few topics being discussed out front. (Members log in at the top of the page to the acclaimed forums on the inside.)

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