How can we learn to promote civil discussion on very important issues people passionately disagree on?
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Many of these issues we face are very important. They have to do with our personal lives, sex and fidelity, or business practices, or how we deal with the environment in ways that will kill us all, or political struggles opressing many. What frameworks, attitudes, habits, habits or practices can we have that help us really listen to each other with empathy? How can we avoid resorting to censorship as a tool? How can we learn to break down emotional conflicts to find the points of agreement, and better understand why there are disagreements? Whether is it is simple ways of non-violent communication, or roberts rules of order, what can we do? How have you seen these methods work in your life to reduce conflict for mutual benefit? How does this relate to Quora and the difficulties of creating positive discourse here so all people can communicate well, be heard, and learn from other perspectives?
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Answer:
Look at the end of the day people are people. When people start thinking with emotions and start getting passionate, which takes finesse and skill to avoid, People lose sight and no real discussion is getting across. So if you want to promote civil discussion be aware of who you are speaking too.
CHarles Bannerman at Quora Visit the source
Other answers
Well you have your work cut out for you, I can say that. Even here on Quora, and that is where I'm framing my answer.The first step is phrasing the question you are seeking answers to as neutrally as possible. Which can be very difficult considering the subject matter. The next step is hoping and praying that the people who answer your question abide by the BNBR rule in place here. That does not always happen, but you do have a better chance on Quora than any other site I've come across.The final step I can suggest is upvoting answers you may not agree with, but that do give good, polite, and reasoned answers to the question. I have upvoted answers that I absolutely do not agree with, but they have been written extraordinarily well and truly cannot cause offense other than they do not see my viewpoint. It's difficult, but it can be done.When people are truly passionate about a topic, it's difficult, no matter where you are, to have a civil discourse. Usually that type of discourse can only occur between friends of good standing who know your particular idiosyncrasies. In my home we have had some rather intense debates about some of the topics you mention in the details, but we are very familiar with each other and don't take offense easily. There are quorans that I know I could disagree with passionately who would not take offense to my position because we 'know' each other well, but those are very few and far between.TL:DR - State the subject as neutrally as possible and stop to consider where the opposing opinion is coming from before you open your mouth to disagree.
Melissa Stroud
Thanks for the A2A, .The only practical way is for people to agree to some basic rules of civil discourse. We have to agree to disagree without being disagreeable. We choose not to use insults, ad hominem attacks, or other personal attacks. We make a point to understand what the other person is saying. We keep our emotions under as much control as we can.And we have to abide by the rules. All of us.That's the only way to do it: by choice. Because we all have a tendency to want to yell to get our way. It's a universal human failing which most of us refrain from doing via self-control.Not everyone has self-control; and worse, some people enjoy yelling to get their way. There's no formula for dealing with such people. We cannot always compel others to play by the rules.All we can do is formuate some rules of basic courtesy for discourse; and we follow through. We expect this from others, and we make a point to practice what we preach.This start does not guarantee change. But if we do not start, there will be no change. That, I guarantee you.
Chrys Jordan
Be Nice, Be Respectful is a darn good start.
Scott Welch
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