Leapfrog How to hold a civil conversation in an uncivil era

Conflict, difference, disagreement, even misunderstanding can arise unexpectedly during the course of anyone's day. And, while remaining civil is not always easy, it is important to remember that hate and fear are neither the natural nor necessary responses to difference. Nevertheless, we may get triggered, sucked into an argument we didn't see coming, propping one set of facts up against another with neither side listening, eventually wondering what the hell just happened. In our current political climate, our cultural capacity for sustained and serious debate is low. Anyone watching news shows where guests are reduced to shouting over each other can attest to this loss of civility. As important as politics are, this booklet is not limited to political conversations. The ideas given here can be applied to any conversation you deem "difficult," from marital disagreements and parent-teen clashes to neighborhood standoffs and workplace disputes. And so, perhaps a more inclusive subtitle would be, How to hold a difficult conversation at a difficult time. But given the ability to freely posit a confident opinion and the experience of being involved in an important conversation, I believe people will find each other again. This book can give you a way to be heard and to hear without judgment. Then watch as magic happens.