Our screens are filled with controversy, but what is the most controversial conversation topic in 2024? Also, when faced with controversial topics how do we navigate safely?
Daniel MacDougall
What is the most controversial topic in the world in 2024?
In the contemporary discourse of this year, identifying a singular topic is a challenge when considering the nature of peoples' culture, country, standard of living, and personal beliefs.
There is everything from gun control, animal testing, abortion, universal basic income, forced vaccinations, and the list goes on. Even debating on what is the most controversial subject is a matter of controversy in and of itself. In most cases, controversy stems from polarizing viewpoints and beliefs. The intensity of the debate is proportional to the scarcity of common ground between perspectives.
Historically, religion reigned supreme in the controversial climate. How many wars over the years were spurred based on differences in beliefs? "According to the Encyclopedia of Wars, out of all 1,763 known/recorded historical conflicts, 121, or 6.87%, had religion as their primary cause. Matthew White's The Great Big Book of Horrible Things gives religion as the primary cause of 11 of the world's 100 deadliest atrocities."
Of course, I anticipated this number to be a little higher, but differences in religion can be responsible for the deaths of 16 to 30 million people. However, this point arises to reinforce the dynamics of conversations in the realm of controversy and not finger-pointing at religion or war. There is plenty more to say regarding religion, war, and how we communicate. The point is, talking about controversial viewpoints can spiral out of control.
After scouring the internet and social media, there appear to be three paramount subjects wrapped in controversy: climate change, AI, and politics. Of the big three, climate change and AI are the newest to the piss-you-off crowd. Both of these topics catalyze constant debate.
Watching videos of these zero-sum mentality debates are set up to discredit the other opponent in a tit-for-tat spat, and people love to see their beliefs enforced to the point where they defeat and embarrass the other. Debates between controversial subjects have developed into an entertainment factor, diverging from seeking truths.
Look at the number of YouTube videos of people getting destroyed in debates and the view counts. These numbers are almost unfathomable. We love to see others outwitted to gain enforcement when aligned with our ideals.
Such discussions often degenerate into power games where individuals prioritize victory aligned with personal agenda. Talking through controversy should align with a collective goal of improving the world around us. Maneuvering through personal and social controversy is an arduous undertaking, but the rewards should be that of casting light instead of dark shadows.
The real question here is not whether one is right over another or which is the most controversial topic, but rather how to do you go about conversing about these topics without making yourself look like a fool or pissing someone off. If your real aim is to improve the world, you may find yourself delving into some difficult conversations.
We all daydream about saying the right thing at the right moment. In reality, this rarely happens. Dealing with opposing viewpoints can feel like jumping into an ice bath, and emotions generally take over rational thinking. We get caught in what we want to express only to fumble it out at the right moment or fall victim to a verbal trap set by the opposing belief.
When navigating controversial topics, the imperative mindset is to communicate yourself without offense. The main thing is to de-escalate and maintain empathy. Not everyone will agree with you, and they don't have to.
Eliminate offensiveness in yourself. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is not verbally attack. When digging through controversial topics and voicing your opinions, people become hyper-alert. People subconsciously study your voice, body movements, and facial expressions, waiting for you to slip up or attack.
You can accommodate two choices: faking respect or becoming more respectful. People are waiting to be triggered by your opinions and actions.
An effort to humanize the discourse to seek mutual grounds is paramount. When you portray this mentality, it puts the same humanizing effort unto them to reciprocate. To achieve this, you need to ask yourself questions. "Why does the other person maintain their viewpoint blind to the fact they may be wrong?" and "How did the two of you or the group get to this point?" Facilitating a deeper understanding of comprehension in the opposing viewpoint, you can begin to unpack it and use it.
Use sentences showing you are trying to understand them, such as:
"I see where you're coming from... "
"I hear what you're saying, and you have some good points."
Statements like this put the weight of the conversation on the opposing shoulders. The best thing to do in controversy is to find common ground and then divulge your points. This approach fosters an amicable exchange of information instead of slamming facts down someone's throat.
It also proves your willingness to listen, thus forcing them to do the same, especially in groups. If one side is willing to listen and the other is not, favoritism typically slides towards understanding. Plus, there may be parts of your belief systems or information that have swayed from truths.
Try to find curiosity in their beliefs. This will heighten your overall attention to detail and listening. Listening is the main factor when challenging contrasting beliefs.
-Craft a statement that helps you respectfully explain others' differences.
- respectful curiosity
- find common ground within the argument.
There is a reason why these topics remain so controversial. They are easy to pick sides on and root yourself within, and there is no real end in sight. Politics will always polarize one another, the scientific grounds on which climate change stands are always evolving, and most don't even know what to expect from AI. There are too many questions, and there are endless answers to debate. But, a good argument sweeps away the dust to reveal the truths lying beneath.
Weekly Side Quest:
Do your best this week to see other's viewpoints and understand them. This will require a great deal of listening on your part, but as always, do your best. That's all you can really do.
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Author's note: none of the writing was generated or made by AI. Our mission is provide a human touch to our journeys together. Thankyou always, Daniel MacDougall…