We live in one of the most politically heated times in history. Expressing your point of view is a personal decision and can be tricky. Although conversations may start out benign, they can quickly become a toxic dialogue.
Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert, author, and the founder of Access to Culture, says there are several “do’s and dont’s” to make sure polite political discourse doesn’t turn into hostile debates.
DO
Show respect for differing opinions
It can be challenging to listen to those with different opinions. It’s important to show respect and take time to listen, giving the other person the opportunity to share their viewpoints. The Platinum rule encourages treating others as they wish to be treated. Stay calm, collected and respectful.
Agree to disagree
If their opinions are different from your views, you can agree to disagree. Try saying something along the lines of, “I respect your perspective, but I think we may need to agree to disagree” or “That’s a different way of thinking about the issue, but I’m comfortable if you and I can agree to disagree.”
Ask questions
If someone asks you a question about your political beliefs, you can reciprocate by asking them about their own beliefs. Let the other person do the talking while you listen. Try to ask open-ended questions such as, “What are your thoughts on the current political atmosphere?” or “How do you feel about the media’s portrayal of …?”
Change the subject
- If someone continues to ask your opinion, change the topic by saying: “It’s impossible to keep track of the different versions of the news. How is your family doing by the way?” “With the divisive political atmosphere, I’m not comfortable sharing my personal opinions, but thank you for your interest.” “I can’t answer that question, but what I can discuss is… ”
DON’T
Get angry, cross or upset
It can be difficult to keep your temper, but don’t get angry or upset if you don’t agree with someone’s viewpoints. Expressing sarcasm, bitterness or passive aggressiveness won’t change any minds. It will only damage your reputation.
Talk over them
The worst thing you could do is interrupt conversation and start talking about your own opinion. Be respectful of other opinions and views. Listen attentively, especially when you don’t agree with that viewpoint. It gets easier the more you practice.
Overshare
Politics is a difficult conversation, particularly with family members and close friends. If you are speaking to someone you’ve just met, refrain from oversharing. In this case, less is more. Avoid saying something you will later regret.
Make assumptions
We make mental notes when we first meet someone new. We make a first impression based on hair, shoes, watch, clothing, mannerisms, etc. However, political views are hidden unless they are shared verbally or by wearing a revealing detail. It’s important to approach people with an open mind to avoid awkward and potentially toxic conversations.
For the Silo, Scott Jones.
Featured image- http://ashleylewis-oldmeetsnew.blogspot.ca/
Good afternoon –
Yesterday, the Doug Ford camp issued a press release where in which stated: “If Kathleen Wynne tried to pull these kinds of shady tricks in private life, then there would be a few more Liberals joining David Livingstone in jail.”
Please find below a transcript of the Premier’s statement regarding these comments. I have also included a copy of the PC news release below for ease of reading:
“Q: Premier, you asked about – you mentioned the leader of the opposition earlier. Yesterday, Mr. Ford said a quote in Brockville and I wanted to run it by you. It’s not quite “lock her up”, but it’s in that vein, I think – “If Kathleen Wynne tried to pull these kinds of shady tricks when private life, then there would be a few more Liberals joining David Livingston in jail.” I just wondered what you thought he meant by that and how you take it and then what the – how the tone of the campaign seems to be headed?
PREMIER KATHLEEN WYNNE: So, I thought about those comments last night.
I actually have a statement that I’d like to read in response and just before I read this, I just want to say that, you know, I grew up in a time in this province of Bill Davis; John Robarts; federally, Lester Pearson – all men, but really decent, decent men. And, John Diefenbaker, you know, people who care deeply about people were in politics because they cared about this country and this province. When I think about – if I think about women, I think about people like Flora Macdonald, you know, who really genuinely believed that Canada was the very best experiment in the world and that we could create a society that was caring, that was diverse and that was, at its core, decent. So, I think part of what shapes me about what I’m about to read, because this is what I believe, what I’m going to read now, is that I have to write, it is that I have to say this, but I do because of where we are this moment.
So, what I want to say is: Let’s just call this for what it is – out for what it is. Doug Ford sounds like Donald Trump, and that’s because he is like Donald Trump. He believes in ugly, vicious brand of politics that traffics and smears and lies. He’ll say anything about anyone at any time because just like Trump, it is all about him. It’s not about our people. It’s not about their families. It’s not about Ontario’s success. It is about him.
That’s how Trump campaigned in 2016 and that’s how Ford is campaigning right now. I guarantee you that it will get worse before it gets better. We saw it this week when Doug lied, flat out lied, about his appalling comments about families living with autism, lacking the courage to admit the truth and own up to his own words. He took the coward’s way out and he denied the undeniable.
Yesterday, he did it again when he all but chanted, “Lock her up,” talking about me. The reporters know what I’m talking about because they reported it and it’s just been repeated here. I want to emphasize this is not about me. I’ve got a pretty thick skin and I’ll take anything that he dishes out, but I want people to notice what’s going on here.
Doug Ford stands for nothing other than Doug Ford. Just like Donald Trump, there is only one way to deal with this kind of behavior. You have to stand up to him and you have to name the behavior for what it is because that is how you deal with a bully. Michelle Obama, whom I admire greatly, recommended that when they go low, we should go high. I loved that idea when she said it, until we ended up with Donald Trump in the White House.
So, I’m sorry, but not again. Not here, not in Ontario. I’m not going to go high. I’m not going to go low. I’m going to call that bullying behavior out for what it is. I will fight him on behalf of the people, the families, the babies, the moms, the dads, the grandmas, the aunts and the uncles all over this province. I will fight him on the principles that I believe in. Those are principles that I referenced at the beginning of this statement – that we have the capacity in this province and in this country to be a caring society, that we understand that what government exists to do is to put those conditions in place for us to care for each other and to be able to look after ourselves and our families. That is what I will fight for because he may be Donald Trump, but I’m not Hillary Clinton, not in Ontario and Ontario is not the United States of America.”
PC News Release:
DOUG FORD WILL CALL IN AN OUTSIDE AUDIT OF KATHLEEN WYNNE’S RECKLESS SPENDING
On April 17, 2018 Doug Ford shared more details about his plan For the People by announcing that he will call in an outside audit of Kathleen Wynne’s reckless spending on his first day of office.
“We’re going to restore responsibility, accountability, and trust in government,” said Ford. “For me, nothing is more important than straight talk and keeping your word.”
Ford made his commitment while visiting Brockville, and meeting with locals.
“I want you to have the whole truth about what’s going on,” said Ford, “because Kathleen Wynne is not telling you the whole story.”
Since coming into office, the Liberals have been routinely found in violation of ethical standards that culminated in the recent conviction and jailing of former Liberal Chief of Staff David Livingston. Ontario’s Auditor General has routinely cited the Liberals for abusing taxpayer dollars in a reckless and inappropriate manner.
“If Kathleen Wynne tried to pull these kinds of shady tricks in private life, then there would be a few more Liberals joining David Livingstone in jail,” said Ford. “Ontario deserves answers about how big Kathleen Wynne’s mess really is.”
An Outside Audit would probe the entirety of Kathleen Wynne’s fiscal mess and ‘follow the money’ to see how your tax dollars are really being spent. Ford also committed to making the results of the outside audit available to the public in its entirety.
“It’s time to find out who is getting rich off your tax dollars and how big Kathleen Wynne’s deficit really is,” said Ford.
In his remarks Ford also committed to providing more resources to support Ontario’s Auditor General. Kathleen Wynne recently changed election laws to prohibit the Auditor General from blocking the Liberals from spending taxpayer money on partisan ads, and has spent more than $185,000 of taxpayer dollars on partisan campaign events in the last few weeks alone.
“The people of Ontario have been lied to and taken advantage of for far too long,” concluded Ford. “We’re the only ones who will respect the people. We’re the only ones who will always be for the people.”