Assume The Best In People: Talking Politics Post-2020

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Abstract

has rewarded polarization, and so the barriers between political parties, religions, and social groups seem insurmountable. But these barriers are illusory. Despite the apparent exclusivity in our society, we all want the same things in life: safety, love, and happiness. We’re all just people — we all have the same core needs at the end of the day.The goal is not to change other people’s minds. Instead, the goal is to learn from people and broaden our own mind. Enter into conversations with the intention of understanding the other person’s point of view and how they came to hold it. If they’re willing, they’ll ask reciprocal questions, learn from you, and broaden their mind as well.The most important piece to understand is the process of how they shaped their worldview. How did they learn the things they know? Usually this is where people pick up faulty information on top of which they build their entire beli

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ef system. Most people, you’ll find, are perfectly capable of forming a rational ideology— their logic isn’t wrong, their foundational assumptions are.<h2 id="bc18">No matter how smart or sweet or persuasive you are, you can’t force people to change their minds.</h2>Drop assumptions about the other side of the political spectrum and remember we are all searching for the same thing in life. There is no difference in motivation, only in method.When you judge, you’ll never understand. When you understand, you’ll never judge.If you are thinking about joining Medium, please use <a href="https://adrian-eaton.medium.com/membership">my referral link here</a>. It costs the same, and it will help support me as a Medium writer.<a href="https://adrian-eaton.medium.com/subscribe">Subscribe</a> for email notifications every time I post a new story!</article></body>

The most powerful thing we can do is get along.

The goal in a political conversation is never to change the other person’s mind. We should only seek to understand each other.

Premature persuasion is an obstacle to progress. We won’t even know the solutions that are best for everybody until we take the time to listen.

Humility and empathy are key.

We have to truly believe it’s possible connect with other people on an individual level. Neoliberal culture has rewarded polarization, and so the barriers between political parties, religions, and social groups seem insurmountable. But these barriers are illusory. Despite the apparent exclusivity in our society, we all want the same things in life: safety, love, and happiness. We’re all just people — we all have the same core needs at the end of the day.

The goal is not to change other people’s minds. Instead, the goal is to learn from people and broaden our own mind. Enter into conversations with the intention of understanding the other person’s point of view and how they came to hold it. If they’re willing, they’ll ask reciprocal questions, learn from you, and broaden their mind as well.

The most important piece to understand is the process of how they shaped their worldview. How did they learn the things they know? Usually this is where people pick up faulty information on top of which they build their entire belief system. Most people, you’ll find, are perfectly capable of forming a rational ideology— their logic isn’t wrong, their foundational assumptions are.

No matter how smart or sweet or persuasive you are, you can’t force people to change their minds.

Drop assumptions about the other side of the political spectrum and remember we are all searching for the same thing in life. There is no difference in motivation, only in method.

When you judge, you’ll never understand. When you understand, you’ll never judge.

If you are thinking about joining Medium, please use my referral link here. It costs the same, and it will help support me as a Medium writer.

Subscribe for email notifications every time I post a new story!