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@douginamug@mastodon.xyz

Post #1145410

2026-04-12 12:26 UTC

Listened to this podcast with author of book "Don't talk about politics" Dr Sarah Stein Lubrano. https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/189991441/e888cad16e3c5835d2a100dc101d783c.mp3 (yes, I know the platform is bad) Basically confirms what I felt was true: politically debating strangers is useless if not counterproductive. What does is friendship and experience. But further: forming friendships with people outside of our comfort zone is a social skill that can be trained or atrophy, and that SM is a bad medium for it. Importance of 3rd spaces.

Replies (4)

  • @douginamug@mastodon.xyz 2026-04-12 12:31

    I used to hitchhike a lot. Had a bunch of wild chats with different people. Met some pretty nasty opinions. But usually not, and it was somehow always overall good. (Note: I was never assaulted, I know multiple women that were.) I still feel pretty socially open, but I think I was really trained then. It's much harder to hold models of real people than of simplified straw people.

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  • @mpjgregoire@cosocial.ca 2026-04-12 12:42

    @douginamug I enjoy discussing politics on social media, but I don't think I've changed anyone's mind (not even when I'm right, dammit), and I'm not sure anyone's changed my mind (though of course my memory lies to me and tries to hide reversals in opinion). But sometimes you can broaden someone's ideas: e.g., they believe a claim, maybe they'll come to think well, yes, I'm basically right, but it is a bit more complicated than I had realised.

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  • @mactunag@gts.eunach.scot 2026-04-12 12:51

    @douginamug I've found similar, the peoples opinions I have changed have always come through friendliness in person. I used to work with people who were anti-vegan-labelled food. Veganism bad etc. After a month or two they were ensuring plant alternatives were available at work for colleagues. So a total about turn. Believe if I was rude or pushy, that world not have happened

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  • @rosano@mastodon.online 2026-04-12 14:52

    @douginamug from people i know, i'd say @omarshehata is the most invested in making it work on social media and has had success. i think @beautfc's videos were also a great example of "political bridges". but off social media is definitely easier

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