I ask it of you (and me) because there seems to be an unsaid assumption among politicians and national and local media outlets (including NPR and KPBS) that these type of colloquial "kitchen table" discussions is where "real" issues get parsed. &
Take Citizen Voices for example. "Tired of hearing from the same old pundits?" goes the radio plug, "check out Citizen Voices." The contributors on this blog -- both the ones with and without little pictures next to their names -- have volunteered to sit and discuss political issues around an electronic version of the "kitchen table," not because it pays the utility bill, but because it matters that citizens in a democracy talk about controversial issues.
The big differences in my mind between friends or family disagreeing about, say, legalizing marijuana in person versus online, are ones of persuasion and location.
Face to face, it's harder to ignore someone else's logic (benefit of the doubt that every belief has an explanation behind it) but it can also be much more difficult to open up and be direct. Online, it's harder to keep from opening up too much (as seen by long-winded prose and over-shares), and one's point can be completely buried among the verbiage. &
Last point disguised as a question -- could a discussion like the one generated here last week about same-sex marriage have taken place around a real-live kitchen table instead of an online forum? &
I say no way. &
There's no way in heaven (or hell) that a conversation as varied, revelatory, personal, inspiring and downright shocking would have happened in person. Someone, like a much younger version of me perhaps, would've given up on civil discourse around the third day and picked up a (soft) object to hurl across the room. Good night. Time's up. Time to go home, leave the extra food please. &
A kitchen table discussion is overrated. & Next time a politician wants to hear his or her constituents' "real" issues, someone should suggest he or she check out the local blogs. And recommend he or she use a pseudonym -- if easily mortified. &
Thanks for a great week's worth of thoughts and ideas. Come back anytime, and B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Brain).
- Citizen Voices blogger Alma Sove has spent most of her life in San Diego and is currently attending law school.
