The Real Heated Rivalry Is Happening in The Lance Comment Section

Canada’s @Baddiesforlatinos and Russia’s @A.guy.who.cares fought it out in the playoffs (The Lance comment section) last week. 

In the comment section of an article covering Bad Bunny’s halftime show, anonymous users on The Lance got involved in a heated debate over political opinions. In that article, I wrote an overview of the performance as well as provided cultural context to the show, such as translations or explanations I read about in interviews.

Since its publication, the article has since been the hub for political debate (and heated rivalries . . .) which is why it's important to know how to have a good conversation.

Polarization between people increases when we argue politics to “win” rather than understanding each other's views.

The point of debate should be to understand the other side better. If both sides of an argument are focused on winning, nobody is listening to each other. They’re just focused on finding any “gotcha” moments rather than genuinely listening to the points being made. 

In a particularly challenging time given the sheer volume of issues we are exposed to with the current state of social media, there is going to be a lot of social unrest and different opinions. For that reason, it’s important to understand how to hold a proper conversation.

Ask Why

Ask someone why they think that. Socrates—the ancient Greek philosopher—utilized asking questions during debates, as he believed it was the best way to uncover truth and deepen understanding. 

Changing your mind isn’t a weakness; it’s a sign of intellectual flexibility and a willingness to understand others. 

It’s important to remember that political beliefs are often tied to identity and are rooted in emotion. When someone feels like their beliefs are being attacked, they’ll often shift into defensive mode, which makes productive conversation close to impossible. 

People aren’t irrational for becoming emotional in political arguments; they’re human. However, defensiveness often prevents real understanding from taking place.

What Productive Political Conversations Look Like 

• Listening without interrupting the other person. Regardless of how much you disagree with the other person, everyone wants to feel heard. 

• Asking open-ended questions. What led you to that belief? Why do you think that? 

• Acknowledging valid points even if you disagree with the conclusion of them. Oftentimes, opposing sides share the same goals (safety, stability, and well-being) but disagree on how to achieve them. 

• Avoiding personal attacks and loaded language

• Admitting uncertainty or gaps in knowledge. Nobody knows everything, and admitting that doesn’t mean you’re losing an argument. It means you’re honest. 

Empathy Without Compromise

Having empathy towards another person doesn’t mean that you’re immediately agreeing with their viewpoints. Understanding someone’s reasoning doesn’t mean you’re endorsing their beliefs if they go against your values. You can strongly oppose an idea while respecting the person that holds it. 

I hope this article has inspired you to reflect on how you have political conversations in your day-to-day life. 

The next time you find yourself in a Heated Rivalry with another person, think about how to understand them rather than winning. Even just asking them, "Why do you think that?” can make all the difference.