Out of ten, how would you rate your ability to empathize with people with opposing viewpoints? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 6 days ago by StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Let's say zero is straight up shutting your ears, going lalala and storming out of the room, let's say 10 is sitting down with a Nazi, genuinely making an effort to see things from their point of view just to see if you could.

Sure this may sound ridiculous but it's basic knowledge that studying your opponents viewpoints is the best way to counter them and get new insight yourself.

Me? Id like to think I'm a 6, I don't cut family ties over their political opinions but I'm very likely to shut that down with a "I don't want to speak politics with you"

Lemmy can be an echo chamber sometimes, but that doesn't mean everyone here is a mindless zombie, how do you all deal with others who believe differently? Can you back it up?

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[-] pheonixdown@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 days ago

It depends on what you mean by viewpoint.

If they're disagreeing about objective reality, 0/10. If we can't agree on an objective level, there's no point.

If they're disagreeing about following the social contract of tolerance, -10/10. They break the contract, they aren't covered by it, they should be removed with prejudice.

If they're disagreeing about the value of certain concepts, solutions or programs, 3/10? I'd talk to someone about something for a little while, I might give them a reference, but it's not my job to educate them.

Of course just talking to people, I'm like a 5/10 in general...

[-] morgan_423@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

It depends on what you mean by viewpoint. If they’re disagreeing about objective reality, 0/10. If we can’t agree on an objective level, there’s no point.

This is pretty much the crux of the problem right here. How are you supposed to have any kind of productive conversation about the world if they are living in a fictional one that doesn't actually exist?

[-] howrar@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 days ago

If they're disagreeing about objective reality

I always enjoy hearing about how people come to believe what they do. There's pretty much always a logical basis for it and the difference just comes down to their heuristics failing at one particular point and cascading.

[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 days ago

this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2025

52 points (93.3% liked)

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