Blog Posts by Tag

What Queer Eye Can Teach Us About Bridging Divides

Bias / July 22nd, 2019 / By Samantha Shireman

“If you voted for Trump, unfollow me.” Most of us are familiar with this sentiment. It is common for people to not want to be associated with those whose values and opinions they deem dangerous or hateful. Tuning out voices we disagree with is not a practice unique to the Left, but as a...

Bridging Divides, Bridging America's Divide, Television, Progressives, Progressivism, Bias Against Conservatives, Arts And Entertainment

How a Hijab-Wearing Muslim and a MAGA Hat-Wearing Conservative Formed a Friendship

Bias / July 8th, 2019 / By Julie Mastrine

Amina Amdeen is a Muslim who wears a hijab. She’s been in situations where people have tried to remove her hijab from her head. So when she saw a group of protestors trying to light conservative Joseph Weidknecht on fire and snatch a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat from his head, she...

Polarization, Bridging Divides, Trump, MAGA, Muslims

When Talking to Conservatives, Liberals May Want to Avoid These Terms

Bias / May 30th, 2019 / By James Coan

Editor's note: See our list of words conservatives may want to avoid when talking to liberals. Suppose you are talking to another person who has very different political viewpoints. Everything seems to be going fine. Then, you say a word or phrase that unintentionally alienates the other...

Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides, Bias, Civil Dialogue, Civil Discourse

How to Avoid an ALL CAPS Screaming Match: 5 Tips for Productive Debate

Bias / May 28th, 2019 / By Albert Navarra

Hemingway said, “The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.” What does “the world” actually mean? It could mean macro issues, like human rights, social and economic policies, and international peace and prosperity. If you care about these issues, they are certainly worth promoting...

Debate, Debates, Bridging Divides

Students Meet Their Political "Other" Using Mismatch by AllSides

Bias / April 11th, 2019 / By Clara Nevins

Our current, polarized political landscape is reverberating through our classrooms. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders, and we are counting on them to forge a more positive path that is less divisive and less dysfunctional. How can teachers prepare students with the skills and...

Bias, Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides, Democracy, Mismatch, AllSides For Schools, Education

Rush to Curiosity — Judge Later

Bias / March 15th, 2019 / By Debilyn Molineaux

We’ve all done it. We see or hear something (like a news story or meme/tweet) and are outraged — we MUST respond. We. Can. Not. Let. It. Go. Unchallenged. Besides, we know we are smarter than whoever is offending us, right? (Cue music of self-righteousness.) Whew. My blood pressure goes...

Polarization, Bias, Bridging Divides, Bridging America's Divide, Political Polarization

George H. W. Bush and the Era of Civility

News / December 5th, 2018 / By Billy Binion

With the passing of George H. W. Bush, much has been made of the former president’s life and record, whether it be his foreign policy achievements or the public devotion he showed toward his family. But perhaps what's most striking is that the tributes continue to crisscross the political...

George H. W. Bush, Politics, Bridging Divides, Polarization, Political Polarization, Bill Clinton, News

'Find Your Perfect Mismatch': Learn How to Talk With Your Political Other

News / December 3rd, 2018 / By Billy Binion

The problems and divides we see every day seem too big to solve. Politicians enrage us to fight. News media sensationalizes the worst extremes. And they all do this so well that we can't help but feel angry and disenchanted. But we can do something about it. Enter Mismatch , a program by...

Bridging Divides, Polarization, Political Polarization, Civil Discourse, News

Is Civility a Bogus Concept After All?

Bias / November 26th, 2018 / By Julie Mastrine

We built AllSides in part because we believe in the power of civility and civil discourse . AllSides helps people build relationships with those who are different from them, which we believe will ultimately improve our democracy. But, could we be wrong? What if civility is actually a sham...

Civility, Civil Discourse, Civil Dialogue, Bridging Divides, Bridging America's Divide

"Angry Uncle Bot" Helps You Prep for Thanksgiving Political Talk

Bias / November 19th, 2018 / By Julie Mastrine

You may have already prepared yourself for any potentially uncomfortable holiday conversations by reading our 5 tips for handling political conversations at Thanksgiving dinner , but what if you could practice beforehand? Our conversation tips for bridging divides include asking to listen...

Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides, Bias, Polarization, Political Polarization

5 Ways to Handle Political Conversations at Thanksgiving Dinner

Bias / November 15th, 2018 / By Julie Mastrine

We often think of Thanksgiving as a time when we relax with family and friends, stuff ourselves silly — and maybe apologize for burning the casserole. But aside from all the revelry, Thanksgiving can also bring uncomfortable political conversations. Thanksgiving is truly a time when we’re...

Thanksgiving Message, Thanksgiving, Bias, Polarization, Political Polarization, Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides, Dialogue, Civil Discourse, Dialog, Civility

After A Deeply Polarized Election, What's Next for the U.S.?

Bias / November 13th, 2018 / By Julie Mastrine

After a deeply polarized election, what's next for the U.S.? Despite the pervasiveness of technologies that connect us, it seems our communities are more deeply divided and polarized than ever. Media bias is only making things worse. It's time to break out of our filter bubbles. Let's go...

Discussion, Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides, Dialogue, Dialog

The Power of Persuasion (or Lack Thereof)

Bias / September 19th, 2018 / By Dakota Marlega

For as long as I can remember, I have had an innate love for two things (amongst many others, of course): genuine dialogue and compulsively checking my email. Never in my life did I think the two would coincide until one fateful summer morning when I was forwarded an email from a college...

Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides, Living Room Conversations

Paradox: Our Weakness Is Our Strength

News / July 6th, 2018 / By Joan Blades

I began describing Living Room Conversations as a domestic peace initiative just over a year ago. Individuals and communities that were at odds or disconnected were intentionally meeting to talk, build understanding and even friendships. It has become clear that the result is simple local...

Political Polarization, Bridging Divides, Living Room Conversations, News

Contrarian or Jerk?

News / March 5th, 2018 / By Debilyn Molineaux

We all know them -- and we may be them. Who? People who seem to tear down every idea, project or dream we’ve been carefully crafting and protecting. Us dreamers are gonna dream -- and to make dreams a reality, we actually need the contrarians in our lives to help us. The challenge we have...

Polarization, Bridging Divides, Living Room Conversations, News

The Future We Would All Like to See

Recommended Reading / June 24th, 2016 / By John Gable, AllSides Co-founder

The danger of nuclear weapons may not be a fun thing to talk about, but it is critical to our future. Let's start talking about it. Our good friend, Joan Blades , agrees, and she is starting the conversation in living rooms across the country. She invited John Gable, our founder, to...

Nuclear Weapons, Living Room Conversations, Bridging America's Divide, Bridging Divides

Tag: Bridging Divides