A quiet chat in the library changed my mind about a protest last semester

I was grabbing a book on political theory at the main campus library when a student I'd only seen shouting at a rally sat down and just asked me why I looked so upset. They listened for ten minutes, then said 'I think we both want people to feel safe to talk, we just see different paths,' which honestly stuck with me more than any sign. How do you actually start those kinds of talks without it blowing up?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_sam11d ago

Honestly, the small talk first thing never works for me. It feels like a fake move, and people can tell. I just say the real thing right away, like "Hey, I saw your sign and I have a different take, can we talk?" It's scary but clear. That direct start is what made that library chat real for me, not talking about the weather first.

blake94528d ago

Last year at the campus coffee cart, I just asked someone from the other club if they wanted a free refill. We ended up sitting for twenty minutes just talking about why we joined our groups in the first place. The key for me was asking a small, normal question first instead of jumping right into the big debate. It takes the pressure off and lets you see each other as people before you get into the hard stuff.

claire_grant3428d ago

Totally agree with @blake945, that's the move. I always try to find something totally normal to talk about first, like the long line or the bad weather. Makes the rest way easier.

jadej5028d ago

Remember how weird it is to talk politics at the gym? I once saw two guys in matching shirts from rival campaigns just silently using ellipticals next to each other. That shared, awkward moment of just being people doing a normal thing totally broke the ice for them.