While it’s easy to identify beliefs or actions of others that we think are wrong and need to be addressed, it’s much harder to do so in a way that respects their agency and intelligence and doesn’t merely satisfy our own impulses and desire to be right.
We can’t fix all the world’s problems single-handedly, but we can contribute to a culture that cultivates compassion over grievance.
Ground rules for civil conversation
Things have been a little stormy here lately.
If we treat others with respect, as rational people who might have good reasons to opt out and show them where their participation will pay off and be useful, we might just get them to play.