7 ideas are expressed, questions are asked or answered, or news and information is exchanged.’ This seems a much more open, welcoming environment to discuss important topics, and hints at the possibility of altering mindsets and an increased awareness of the diversity of opinions that can surround a single question. Very often, having an ‘argument’ is not the reality, but generally I have found it to be what people expect when difficult topics are raised. I met a new group of people over the summer on a course, and we had many contrasting, sometimes extreme, opinions on a variety of topics because of growing up in different areas with different educations. I expected there to be clashes due to how differently we all felt, but it was in fact the opposite. Our debates were constructive and open, and gave an insight into how other people view society and its issues. Something that one person said that really struck me was “It’s good that we can discuss these issues passionately and with strong beliefs, yet still respect someone else’s opinions and listen to what they have to say without becoming angry.”That resonated with me - just because someone has different opinions to you, don’t take it as a challenge for you to change their mind to what you think. Meeting those people over the summer has changed my own personal beliefs in various ways. If that one singular experience can alter my thoughts so much, how much have I changed in the years I’ve been at school, talking to many people every day? We don’t realise how much influence other people have on our lives, and often this is for the better. Having these ‘big conversations’ not only exposes us to ideas that are different from our own, but it also gives us the skills to listen, question and challenge others respectfully whilst communicating our own opinions. Quite often, it can also be a unifying, rather than dividing, experience. Again, I return to the definitions. ‘Argument’ has connotations of being divisive and confrontational, whereas ‘conversation’ is far more friendly and connecting. If we kept our opinions to ourselves, we would never find people who hold similar beliefs, never find people who can challenge our own ideas. The aim of the ‘Big Conversation’ is to unite, not to divide.
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