We should debate controversial things

That title may seem ridiculously self-evident, but it seems that the use of debate as a means of encountering, exploring, considering and resolving controversies is increasingly out of favor.

A host of perspectives point to a growing reluctance among Americans to engage in discussions on controversial issues. A 2018 Pew Research Center survey found that 53% of Americans find political conversations with those they disagree with stressful and frustrating, up from 46% in 2016. This shift is linked to perceptions that debates are increasingly negative and less respectful, as well as the "spiral of silence," where individuals with minority opinions self-censor to avoid social isolation. Adding to this dynamic, certain contentious topics, particularly those tied to group identities, are often reframed as issues requiring "dialogue, but not debate." This approach suggests that debating such issues can undermine the lived experiences or inherent dignity of affected groups, leading to calls for empathetic conversation over argumentative discourse. While fostering understanding, this trend can further stifle open discussion, creating an environment where ideological divides persist but remain unexplored. Brendan Stern, Associate Professor of American politics, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy in Deaf America and Head Coach of the debate team at Gallaudet University offers a compelling perspective on this issue. His recent blog post considers this trend in the context of a public debate about advances in medical technology that could have profound impacts on the Deaf community. Please take the time to read Prof. Stern's article; it's worth your while.

Works Cited

Pew Research Center. (2018, November 5). More now say it’s ‘stressful’ to discuss politics with people they disagree with. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/11/05/more-now-say-its-stressful-to-discuss-politics-with-people-they-disagree-with/

Stern, B. (2024, December 11). We can’t just sign against curing deafness. We need to debate it with people who think they know best. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://5tern.com/2024/12/11/we-cant-just-sign-against-curing-deafness-we-need-to-debate-it-with-people-who-think-they-know-best/