We have to learn to discuss again!

I actually wanted to write about the new start-up monitor today. But then I read what Dunja Hayali experienced on social media after interviews with Karl Lauterbach and Ricarda Lang. And I am stunned by our culture of discussion. So today: an outcry!

(Un)social media: What is actually going on with our discussion culture?

What is actually going on with our discussion culture? That’s what I asked myself, completely stunned, when I had to experience on social media what happened after Dunja Hayali’s interviews with Karl Lauterbach and Ricarda Lang.

Brief summary: Dunja Hayali is one of the best-known moderators in Germany and interviewed the Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach and the Chairwoman of the Green Party Ricarda Lang a few days ago in the ZDF morning magazine.

Lauterbach commented on his planned reform of the healthcare system, in particular on the issue of nursing shortages and the situations in hospitals. Ricarda Lang gave her view on the energy crisis in Germany and on security of supply as well as the nuclear phase-out.

Different opinions are desirable

To get straight to the point: you don’t have to agree with the opinions of the Federal Minister of Health or with those of the Green Party chairmen. why? Everyone can have their own opinion and it may differ from other opinions.

But what stunned me was the comments on the interviews on social media. I will refrain from giving examples here. Anyone who likes to read them will find them themselves after a short search.

The comments were so bad that even Ms. Hayali made a post saying that she must remember not to read the comments on social media after an interview. Because the hate, the hostilities and the personal attacks would be difficult to endure.

Social media: There is a lack of discussion of other opinions

And that’s exactly what makes me so stunned. If the “commentators” would at least deal with what was said in the interview. But that’s exactly what they don’t do. Rather, everything that comes to mind is “vowed up” in terms of statements.

There is no discussion to be seen here, but a pure vomit of one’s own opinion, regardless of whether it is based on facts or not. Now, of course, an opinion is just that – an opinion, not necessarily something based on reason, as nice and desirable as that would be.

But what you experience here, and this situation with the two interviews is just one of an awful lot, has nothing to do with expressing an opinion. Rather, it’s a cacophony of utterances that even a bestial thriller’s screenwriter couldn’t dream up.

We have lost a decent culture of discussion

But why is that? I think that on the one hand the culture of discussion has been lost. Discussing means that opinions are exchanged. We experience that here too. But the goal of a discussion is that the opinions of both the participants and the viewers and listeners may change.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore these days. Rather, it is expressed in order to announce an immutable supposed truth.

In addition, there is no longer any interest in perhaps learning something new and thus perhaps changing one’s own opinion. One’s own opinion is immutable and anyone who doesn’t recognize this is simply stupid.

Social media: screaming for the sake of screaming

In addition, one’s own opinion is expressed with such vehemence that it almost takes one’s breath away – it was definitely the case for me.

Since wishes are expressed to the interviewees, which drip with malice that one wonders what bad things were actually said by the interviewees. But these simply represented a different opinion than that of the commentators.

Social Media: We need humility in discussions

This must end! On the one hand, we finally need effective systems against this type of hate speech. On the other hand, we have to learn ourselves not to always jump on sensationalist news and comment on it, no matter how sensational.

That requires humility on our part, because we can’t say anything substantial about most of the topics – we simply don’t have the knowledge. Having an opinion is easy. Having a well-founded opinion requires dealing with a topic. And that often just doesn’t happen anymore.

We can all do something

Of course, I am aware that such a change is difficult to achieve. Because the temptation to jump at every “opinion carrot” and think you have to express yourself is just too sweet. But we can still do something. On the one hand, admitting that we cannot contribute something to every topic.

On the other hand, admitting to others that they have authority in certain areas that is based on experience and knowledge. And finally, looking for meaning in another person’s expression of opinion and not immediately assuming that this expression is meaningless or even stupid per se.

Discussion culture: Hope dies last

I sincerely hope that this article will give you food for thought. And that we learn to discuss again. Because from what I have read in the context of the reactions to the two interviews, I know that this is necessary.

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