{"id":2758,"date":"2024-10-30T17:48:15","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T17:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/?p=2758"},"modified":"2024-12-09T07:07:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T07:07:19","slug":"4-responses-political-insults-help-reduce-polarization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2024\/10\/30\/4-responses-political-insults-help-reduce-polarization\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Respond to Political Insults That Help Reduce Polarization"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou voted for Harris? What\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou voted for Trump? You\u2019re part of the problem.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ve been insulted for your political beliefs. Let\u2019s face it: insults can get our blood pumping. We can \u201csee red\u201d and feel the urge to toss insults back \u2014 to fight fire with fire. The person who has insulted us can represent, for the moment, the entire \u201cother side\u201d \u2014 we can feel the urge to vent all our pent-up rage at \u201cthem.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being insulted is a challenge, to be sure \u2014 <\/span>but it can also be an opportunity<\/b>. With the right approach, we might get people to consider how their toxic ways of engaging are hurting political discourse \u2014 and even hurting their own cause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

#1: Stay calm<\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to stay calm and collected when we feel attacked. Our emotions can <\/span>overwhelm us<\/span><\/a>. Like the boxer Mike Tyson said: \u201cEverybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One obstacle we face in remaining calm is a feeling that doing so is weak. We should remind ourselves that <\/span>remaining calm is the more powerful path<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>Responding to anger with more anger is the path of least resistance \u2014 and our anger can even push people away from our ideas. Remaining calm grants us power: we\u2019ll be <\/span>more persuasive<\/span><\/a> to others.<\/span><\/p>\n

#2: Be vulnerable<\/b><\/h3>\n

Just as it\u2019s hard to remain calm when attacked, it\u2019s hard to be vulnerable. Insults will often put us in <\/span>fight-or-flight mode<\/span><\/a>. Also, like remaining calm, it may feel counterintuitive and weak.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But vulnerability can get people to lower their guard, apologize for their rude behavior, and listen to your ideas. Not always, of course \u2014 but it makes those outcomes more likely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about leaning into this superpower, watch Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s TED Talk <\/span>The Power of Vulnerability<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

#3: Mention the importance of reducing toxicity\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you do succeed in making a connection, however slight, you might try to get them to think about the cause for reducing political toxicity. Some ideas for approaches:<\/span><\/p>\n