Got into it with a guy on a bus in Portland and it totally flipped my view on moderation

I was riding the 4 line in Portland last spring and this older guy started talking about how the city council was corrupt. I jumped in all heated thinking I knew the deal. He just looked at me calm and said 'you ever talk to anybody who actually works for the city or just read headlines?' I realized I had zero real conversations with anyone on the ground there. He pulled out his phone and showed me a meeting schedule for the neighborhood board open to the public. That moment stuck because I used to think getting banned from forums was about fighting for truth. Now I see it's more about the urge to be right without listening first. That bus chat made me question how often I actually learn versus just argue. Has anyone else had a random stranger change how you handle online debates?

2 comments

2 Comments

tara70010d ago

Wait he actually pulled out a meeting schedule on his phone right there on the bus? That's wild - I feel like most people would've just kept arguing with you.

aaron89610d ago

That's a really cool story, glad it worked out that way for you.