What separates civil discourse from other forms of conversation is intent. People participate in civil discourse with the sincere desire to learn from one another. Built on mutual respect, civil discourse allows us to exchange ideas and opinions, achieve greater understanding, find common ground and ultimately establish a path forward.
Civil discourse means:
- Sincerely listening to the other person
- Having an open mind and willingness to change one’s opinion
- Speaking honestly
- Expressing oneself respectfully