Political Discussion and Good Manners
Does that title sound like an oxymoron? I don't think it is. I've worked in several international corporations, my last boss lived and worked in a different country (Canada), and I do volunteer work for an international charitable organization dedicated to saving cranes (of the bird variety). I've had many polite respectful political discussions with coworkers and associates. My life has been enriched by those opportunities. I believe it is possible to discuss political matters in a way that enhances understanding and acknowledges different viewpoints without creating animosity.
Can we do that on this forum? I think it requires that we have some respect and trust in each in the first place (recognizing that we don't want to harm one another on a personal level). It also requires the ability to listen with an open mind.
One of my mentors gave me a piece of advice that I still try to follow. When discussing political matters pretend you're talking to your boss and your boss is your spouse/lover. Have you ever had a political disagreement with your spouse? Chances are that if you told him/her they were an idiot (in so many words) for having that opinion you went without sex, hugs, and pleasant conversation for a period of time. If you still have that loving feeling you've probably learned to agree to disagree.
Presentation makes a big difference. An idea presented as you, you people, your government should/should have is likely to put the other party on the defensive. First of all you don't pay taxes here and have no right to tell me how my government should spend my tax dollars or how I should live my life. Secondly, you've probably never lived in my country or visited my home town, you haven't lived in my shoes and haven't experienced my life. All of these things have probably helped to shape my viewpoint. An alternative might be: In my country we instituted xxxx policy and the benefit was yyyyy. Do you think that might work where you live? See the difference? You've presented an idea and if you get some feedback you just might learn something yourself.
A vague statement that basically says your country is ruining things here isn't likely to have any benefit either. It doesn't say much and the recipient is apt to think you're looking for a scapegoat or afraid of the boogie man. An alternative might be: when your government instituted xxx policy the result here was yyyy and the cost was zzzz. Now you've made a point.
IMHO political discussion presented poorly is nothing more than a lot of hot air or wasted key strokes.
end of rant
Does that title sound like an oxymoron? I don't think it is. I've worked in several international corporations, my last boss lived and worked in a different country (Canada), and I do volunteer work for an international charitable organization dedicated to saving cranes (of the bird variety). I've had many polite respectful political discussions with coworkers and associates. My life has been enriched by those opportunities. I believe it is possible to discuss political matters in a way that enhances understanding and acknowledges different viewpoints without creating animosity.
Can we do that on this forum? I think it requires that we have some respect and trust in each in the first place (recognizing that we don't want to harm one another on a personal level). It also requires the ability to listen with an open mind.
One of my mentors gave me a piece of advice that I still try to follow. When discussing political matters pretend you're talking to your boss and your boss is your spouse/lover. Have you ever had a political disagreement with your spouse? Chances are that if you told him/her they were an idiot (in so many words) for having that opinion you went without sex, hugs, and pleasant conversation for a period of time. If you still have that loving feeling you've probably learned to agree to disagree.
Presentation makes a big difference. An idea presented as you, you people, your government should/should have is likely to put the other party on the defensive. First of all you don't pay taxes here and have no right to tell me how my government should spend my tax dollars or how I should live my life. Secondly, you've probably never lived in my country or visited my home town, you haven't lived in my shoes and haven't experienced my life. All of these things have probably helped to shape my viewpoint. An alternative might be: In my country we instituted xxxx policy and the benefit was yyyyy. Do you think that might work where you live? See the difference? You've presented an idea and if you get some feedback you just might learn something yourself.
A vague statement that basically says your country is ruining things here isn't likely to have any benefit either. It doesn't say much and the recipient is apt to think you're looking for a scapegoat or afraid of the boogie man. An alternative might be: when your government instituted xxx policy the result here was yyyy and the cost was zzzz. Now you've made a point.
IMHO political discussion presented poorly is nothing more than a lot of hot air or wasted key strokes.
end of rant
