If you've ever had a discussion on politics, online or offline, you know that things can get heated. Even when you agree with the other person you're talking to, it's easy for things to get loud. And when you don't agree, there's a potential for there to be a real blow-up between you. But discussing politics doesn't have to turn into a fight. It's possible to have a civil discussion where you listen to each other, even if you really don't agree with each other.
Of course, it's not always as easy as people might make it seem. When you're talking about a subject you're passionate about, what starts as a fun debate could rapidly escalate. But if you make an effort to treat other people well, they'll return the favor.
Keep Your Temper
A discussion on political matters can rapidly devolve into a shouting match if you're not careful. It's easy to get angry when you feel like someone isn't listening to you or their opinions and outlook offend you. But it's important to keep your temper if you want to have an actual discussion and understand their position. If you get angry with them, they are more likely to respond in anger too. If you feel your temper rising, take some deep breaths to allow yourself to calm down. You might need to step away for a while so that you can collect yourself.
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Find Common Ground
You can often find that when you're discussing politics, you share something in common with even those who have very different beliefs. One of the recommendations at liberal8ball is to try and find common ground with people you're talking to. It's rare that there's absolutely nothing that you agree on. For example, you might agree that a certain problem exists but just have different ideas about who is to blame or what the solution should be. You could discover that you have more in common than you first thought if you keep your mind open when you're talking.
Have Empathy
When things start to get kind of heated, it can be hard to remain empathetic. When it's difficult to understand where someone is coming from, characterizing them as someone who is unfeeling or stupid feels like the easy thing to do. But if you can have empathy for whoever you're talking to, you might find that you can have a much more productive discussion. People rarely want to do the wrong thing and usually have good intentions. Understanding where they're coming from and how their personal experiences inform their opinions helps you to keep your discussion as civil as possible.
Be Careful with Your Words
The words that you use when you're discussing politics can have a big impact on the way the conversation goes. If you sound confrontational, other people can feel attacked and the discussion can quickly get away from you. Whether you're asking a question or replying to a point they've made, be careful about the words you choose. Try to make your questions non-judgemental and unassuming, leaving space for your conversation partner to answer however they want. From the other side, try not to react to words that you might find offensive, even if they weren't intended that way.
Avoid Personal Attacks
It should go without saying, but making personal attacks isn't going to result in a productive conversation. Although you might question some of the things other people say, you should avoid criticizing their personal beliefs as much as possible. You're not going to get them to change their mind about a deeply held belief by berating them about it, so it's best just to avoid it. Not to mention that, even if you disagree with each other, you should still try to treat each other as kindly as possible.
Know When It's Time to Stop
Not all discussions on politics are going to be useful or even a good idea. There are times when you have to know to end the conversation and perhaps even walk away from each other. If things are getting too heated or someone is getting upset, you may need to put the topic to bed. If you're just going around in circles or you've both said what you want to say, it's probably time to move on to another topic. Agreeing to talk about something else allows you to take a break from politics for a while.
There's no reason you can't have a civil discussion about politics. But you both have to treat each other kindly and respectfully.
