Transforming our world
one comment
at a time.
Engage with uncomfortable ideas and intimidating people online without losing your mind or sense of self.
Civil Discourse
You’re not alone if the threat of online discord makes you want to take a break from social media or ditch it altogether. Trying to avoid, minimize, or change difficult people, even online strangers, can leave us feeling anxious and depressed. There’s a better way to deal with these uncomfortable online encounters. Virtual Discourse presents ways to defuse tense conversations online, promote positive communication, and bridge differences with difficult people.
FOCUS is key
Discourse can transform our conversations into experiences that create opportunities or heartaches, depending on how we go about it. The best way to do that is to keep our conversations tolerant of differences. Civil discourse isn’t about being nice, polite, and keeping folks comfortable. It’s not even about keeping oneself comfortable. It’s about speaking your mind while respecting other people’s right to speak their own, and braving the uncomfortable experience that comes with it.
National Institute for Civil Discourse
If you’re looking for a way to communicate and connect with people more effectively, Virtual Discourse presents methods to help lead the conversation.
Of course, it is hard to display tolerance when the other person is communicating in a rude, aggressive, or stupid sort of way. As tensions get high, you may feel tempted to give that person a sample of their own rude, aggressive, and foolish behavior. Please don’t. There’s enough of that going around these days.
Instead, redirect the conversation and create meaningful moments online using the FOCUS method.
As you read the FOCUS method for practicing civil discourse online, keep in mind the underlying goal – to respect the legitimate interests of all people involved (even those you don’t like). Every positive word we give and action we take is a step closer towards a brighter, inclusive world.
