How to Lower The Temperature In Conversation In Six Steps: After The Trump Assassination Attempt
Lowering the temperature in political conversation can help our country to heal.
Reducing Conspiracy Theories and Partisanship In A Time of Crisis
It took just minutes after the recent assassination attempt in Pennsylvania before hyper-partisans began hurling accusations and misinformation started to fly through social media. Senator J.D. Vance, now the Republican VP nominee, almost immediately blamed Democrats for the attempt. One Republican congressman said that Biden had ordered the attack.
By the next morning, many had heard, and some believed, that the assassination attempt was a hoax, despite reporting from reliable news sources that one rally attendee had died. Some blamed the shooting on Former President Trump’s rhetoric, which they said is aimed at inciting violence, and caused the January 6 storming of the US Capitol. No, Republicans asserted, it was President Biden’s fault for basing his campaign on claims that Trump is a threat to democracy and a would-be authoritarian. Meanwhile, Trump claimed to have been shot in the ear, which some people have questioned.
What and who should we or can we believe?
Angry, Heated Rhetoric And Finger Pointing Replace Facts
This latest, and most unfortunate, deadly incident illustrates the reasons Kitchen Table Talk was founded: a turbulent situation in America caused by hyper-partisanship, slanted news, social media, algorithms, angry, un-supported rhetoric, distrust, misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and siloed, loud, furious echo chambers of people who disagree. Even worse, reaction to the assassination attempt seemed to ratchet up the hatred and divisions, in a moment where surely all Americans could and should find points on which to agree.
Once again, folks, this is not okay. The United States cannot sustain much more escalation of political attacks. Other nations are increasing their misinformation, disinformation, and fake news attacks on the US. Meanwhile, AI grows exponentially, every second, and with it, the potential to further confuse facts. And millions of Americans agree, we need to tone it down.
Waiting and Verifying Facts Can Lower The Temperature
But what can any individual do to make things better, given the divisiveness and division?
Lots of things. First and foremost, we must learn to wait before facts are verified before making determinations and accusations. It’s tempting to fit whatever happens to the narrative you follow politically. Don’t do it.
Ideally, politicians, pundits, journalists and citizens would also wait for facts to be verified before adding to the maelstrom and our ire. Many of them won’t. But you can. Keeping a cool watch on facts before formulating an opinion or jumping into the social media fray lowers the temperature.
Six Steps To Reduce Your Political Anger: Help Our Country Reunite
Here’s how to prevent compounding the problem of rising rhetoric, and combustion, now, and the next time something major and potentially triggering of partisan fear, confirmation bias, or rage occurs, which it undoubtedly will, and soon:
Take in the news report. Try to be dispassionate and not get carried away. Breathe.
Give in for a short time to your urge for data from your preferred news source. Breathe.
Check a reliable, non-slanted news source. Breathe.
DO NOT POST or like or repost anything or talk to likeminded people who will also be angry. Breathe.
Unless there is a public emergency, leave your news source, go for a walk, go to a movie, read a book, exercise, and get away from your screen. Breathe. There’s power in the pause.
After a few hours or better yet, the next day, check with a reliable news source, not a slanted one, fact check, and wait for verified facts to emerge.
At all times during this and any news crisis, remember to wait, to pause before reacting, and to verify facts before even thinking about reaching a conclusion. Monitor and register any physical signs of stress and find ways to relieve them.
Breathing deliberately, checking in with your body to notice heat or tension, and even placing a hand across your heart can slow the old pattern of hyper-reaction. It’s not serving anybody. If we continue to rage, one day, we, and the country might explode. Try going old school: exercise, read, have fun, laugh or smile, all away from a screen. The news will still be there when you get back, and there may even be a fact or two waiting for you.
