I have avoided using Facebook to engage others on substantive issues. I have changed my mind in reaction to comments made by me son. He accurately noted that we are unlikely to change people with whom we disagree unless we are willing to engage them. So, I am giving it a try.
What I will not do.
I will not respond to posts that are not focused on content generated by the individual offering the post. Speak for yourself. It is good practice for other areas of your life.
My approach.
My professional work includes a focus on the benefit of argumentation. This word may not mean much to most people but it might be useful to compare the process to formal debate. A formal debate process should not be confused with the shouting contests that tend to characterize televised political debates. Popularized uses of formal terms can be a problem.
Performance during a formalized debate can be evaluated. Trained evaluators have specific things to look for in determining the winner. Argumentation as exemplified in a debate involves – a) taking a clearly communicated position, b) offering clearly communicated reasons for taking this position, and c) offering evidence in support of the positions taken. As a form of interaction, the quality of a debate also includes the capacity to be able to clearly recognize the reasons and evidence in an opponent and to offer reasons and evidence to refute these positions.
These are challenging skills that are slow to develop naturally, but are now highly valued because of the widely varying quality of the content most of us consume. This is one reason for the increasing emphasis on the development of critical thinking as an educational goal. Very few under the age of 20 have been educated to develop such skills despite the content we all consume.
If this sounds elitist or academic or some other characteristic used to put down the approach valued by educators I don’t know what to say. This approach is at the core of science. This approach is logical and careful and is intended as a way to evaluate competing positions in a way that reduces bias. It is difficult to engage with others unable or unwilling to admit the possibility of bias. I can say without bias that failing to admit to the possibility of bias is a serious problem.
So, if you offer a comment on Facebook, I may respond to you. If you object, unfriend me. Hold me to the approach I have described above. I will hold you to the same standards.
