Comment by galangalalgol

Having civil discussions with people who disagree isn't about politeness or acquiescence. Having political discussions per the same rules we use for technical debates, like steel manning, allows information to actually flow both ways. I'm up to four people now that I changed parties between 2020 and 2024. That doesn't seem like a lot, but if everyone was doing it it would make a difference. It took time. I had to non judgementally listen to their concerns and intuit the fears underneath. They were reasonable intelligent people operating off of propaganda mostly. The emotional hook had been set and used draw them further and further into false narratives that fed their fears and hopes. To think I am immune isn't realistic either. My triggers are getting used to pull me the other direction, to make me uncompromising, and to view those who disagree as inhuman. Some of that is game theory polarizing us, but some of it is the intentional result of the Kremlin's standard divide and conquer they have been using on us for over half a century. The antidote is calm conversations with voters who have been made scared about irrational things, and looking to see what fears we are being manipulated with as well.