You talk about TikTok, math homework, and plans for the weekend. But do you and your friends ever discuss serious topics that affect your community, country, or world?
At a time when everything from school dress codes to workers’ pay can trigger debates, many Americans don’t. About 45 percent of people in the United States limit who they talk about politics with, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.
But avoiding hard conversations isn’t the answer, experts say, especially in a country with almost 330 million people of varied backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. In fact, talking with each other is key to solving the nation’s problems.
That’s where civil discourse comes in. Civil discourse is the practice of having respectful and
A civil conversation can lead to new ideas for addressing issues, Schwartz says. It can also help bridge political or social divides that may feel overwhelming at first.
“Civil discourse shows people that you might be disagreeing with their idea, but you’re not disrespecting them as a person,” explains Schwartz. “It shows that you see the problems of society as separate from the people in it.”