How to Have Tough Conversations

It is hard to discuss high-stake political and public topics without feeling personally attacked, or without dismissing the experiences and identities of others because almost all of us have experienced cognitive schemata. Having been taught/told something your whole childhood and into adulthood, you become passionate about the subject at hand. We also have core beliefs that are near to impossible to change. This makes it difficult to discuss and to make yourself vulnerable to the topic. In order to discuss these matters and put your thoughts out there, we have to have capacities and skills to ethically and critically communicate in a public sphere with people whose experiences, ideologies, and beliefs differ from ours. We can do this by paying attention to and changing the habits we are often familiar with. For example, categorizing ourselves and each other. This also starts at a very young age with social identity. We can stop using microaggressions in such a negative matter. Lastly, we can put ourselves in each others shoes and try to understand all sides when it comes to politics, instead of pointing a finger at a side. It is becoming normal in our society to point a finger or to call out someone. Some people think this is the only way to get their point across or to prove that their claim is right. I don’t think it’s ever productive to call someone out or to even use microaggressions. Look at what happened in “My Effing First Amendment” podcast when Courtney called out Katie. Everything went downhill for her after that. I think there are so many better and more effective ways to communicate your beliefs. Discussing politics has become very cut throat in our society and it doesn’t have to be.