I bet most of us entered into a conversation about politics. Now days almost everyone talk about it and to be honest now one is being nice about it. Heated arguments build up when politics is the topic. Politics is hard to talk about.
Here are some etiquettes to follow when you enter a conversation about politics:
Remember that politics is very personal. You have your own belief, value and opinion about this. Is it the right time and place to talk about it?
Don’t Assume that everyone in the room or everyone who is part of the conversation agrees with you or with what you are saying.
Check if the people listening to your conversation are interested with the topic. They would have interests if they are willing to listen and learn without converting their opinion. Listen for understanding rather than advantage. This will help create a common space wherein you can explore areas that are different in things but are important.
How to Talk Politics When You Disagree | Ciaran O’Connor |
1. If you are stuck in a heated political argument always stick to the facts. Never believe in what you just hear.
2. Learn to have an exit strategy. Be willing to swallow that last word. This does not mean you are conceding the argument; this just means that you are moving on to avoid a heated territory.
3. It’s so hard to be nice. So Why care about Etiquettes? Etiquettes talks about being respectful, considerate and honest with people. This are tools we can use to bridge political differences. There are nice ways to talk about political issues. It takes more effort but this is worth doing.
4. Look for the Common ground. There are always common grounds that you don’t expect. Are you a Harry Potter fun? Check out this quizzes to test how much you know about it: https://quizlagoon.com/
5. When talking politics, learn to take it down to a local level. Most of the issues that divide people when they talk about politics is about national issues. Instead of talking big or in general, talk about the condition of your street or your own neighborhood. How the mayor or schools are doing in terms about the things we care about. This creates space for dialogues and understanding.
6. If you are able to engage in a political conversation who thinks politically differently than you do, there are benefits from this. You will learn the reason about what’s really dividing you from the person you’re speaking with. When you understand this, it will lead to a more productive ground.
7. Always try to make your conversation productive.