engaging in legitimate debate
I also think public libraries could play a role in fostering healthy communication in person or on social media by promoting or holding discussions around works like:
Why Are We Yelling? The Art of Productive Disagreement by Buster Benson
Conflict Is Not Abuse by Sarah Schulman
Kill Reply All: A Modern Guide to Online Etiquette, from Social Media to Work to Love by Victoria Turk
Bridging Differences Playbook https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/Bridging_Differences_Playbook-Final.pdf?_ga=2.33030392.776663338.1604415157-255958577.1604060842 Libraries could also work with organizations like:
"Living Room Conversations"-- https://livingroomconversations.org/ OpenMind-- https://openmindplatform.org/ Civic Health Project-- https://www.civichealthproject.org/ Braver Angels-- https://braverangels.org/
(1) |
Comments (2)
Yes! Conversations are so useful. Unlike lectures that merely supply information, conversations get people thinking and engaging in really meaningful ways; there are no right answers and ideas are allowed to be explored organically. Which is actually how people shift their ideas and beliefs. I think all sorts of people would attend such events, as long as care is taken to make the discussions non-partisan. People across the political spectrum are open to civil engagement and discourse. What kind of challenges do you think would come up in facilitating such conversations with diverse participants?
I think you would probably need some conversational "ground rules" in place to keep emotions in check.