Why engage with these @&#*$?
In 2016, would you have agreed to moderate a Facebook group bringing together 25 Trump supporters from Alabama and 25 Hillary Clinton supporters from California? You might have thought twice!
However, this improbable experiment yielded positive results, thanks to a specific approach. Journalists behind this initiative aimed to test a model of “dialogue journalism.” They began by asking each group to express how they thought they were perceived by their “opponents”: the exercise brought out the most grotesque clichés, helping each side recognize their simplistic nature.
This “purge” was used at the start of each conversation and made it easier to discuss even divisive topics like gun control, education, or immigration.
Moderating journalists observed that real dialogue was possible within the group. While initial reactions were often negative, encouraging each person to introduce themselves and share their background helped defuse tensions. Gradually, participants displayed curiosity and empathy. Some even became friends in real life, and several continued to engage in their own discussion groups.
To go further
“How to lead a conversation between people who disagree”
by Eve Pearlman (TED Salon Doha Debates, January 2019).
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