Are you having trouble talking to your friends or neighbors about political topics? Do you find yourself getting into arguments that go nowhere? If so, you’re not alone. Many people struggle to have productive conversations about political topics, especially with people who have different views.
This webpage is designed to help you talk intelligently with friends about political topics. It provides tips on how to listen respectfully, ask clarifying questions, and avoid getting into arguments. It also includes resources for learning more about different political viewpoints.
Here are some tips to holding a productive conversation on ANY topic:
- Listen respectfully. When someone is sharing their political views, it’s important to listen to them with an open mind. Don’t interrupt, and don’t try to refute their arguments right away.
- Ask clarifying questions. If you don’t understand someone’s point of view, ask them to clarify it. This will help you to better understand their perspective and to make sure that you’re not misunderstanding them.
- Avoid getting into arguments. If you find yourself getting into an argument, take a step back and try to calm down. Remember that the goal of the conversation is to learn from each other, not to win.
- Focus on the issues, not the people. When talking about politics, it’s important to focus on the issues, not the people. Avoid making personal attacks, and try to stay on topic.
- Be willing to learn. The best way to have productive conversations about politics is to be willing to learn from each other. Be open to hearing different viewpoints, and be willing to change your mind.
Whether you’re a conservative, a liberal, or somewhere in between, this webpage can help you have more productive conversations about politics. So, what are you waiting for? Start reading today!”
Page Purpose
This page was born on September 3, 2023 to share research we had performed to help us prepare for a petition asking our state legislators to override the governor’s veto of three common-sense pieces of legislation that are opposed by radical alphabet soup activists (LBGTQ+&Etc.).
We’ll add more topics to the directory below as a byproduct of our other work here. We are also happy to accept similar types of research that you have prepared and to accept your requests for talking points on specific topics.
