Michael Marshall, host of the Be Reasonable podcast, talks about platforming and de-platforming, arguing vs discussing, beliefs beyond the pale, and the one time he got angry on the show. They also discuss engaging with different beliefs, exposing hidden ideologies, and the importance of fresh produce. We learn how to approach conversations with politeness and respect, expressing genuine curiosity and engaging with disagreements. They share their approach to selecting guests and topics, and talk about the qed event and community building.
Examining extreme beliefs helps us understand how our own beliefs are formed and the biases that influence them.
Platforming individuals with extreme beliefs allows for analysis of the ideas and tactics used to persuade others.
Genuine curiosity and respectful exploration of beliefs leads to more fruitful and meaningful conversations.
Deep dives
Value of Examining Extreme Beliefs
The podcast explores the value of examining extreme beliefs and understanding how people come to hold them. By studying ideas that are widely considered untrue or irrational, the podcast aims to shed light on the nature of belief itself. This allows for a deeper understanding of how our own beliefs are formed and the biases that influence them.
Creating a Platform for Extreme Beliefs
The podcast discusses the decision to provide a platform for people with extreme beliefs, such as racists or conspiracy theorists. While acknowledging the need to be mindful of the potential harm caused by platforming such individuals, the host believes there is value in examining the ideas and arguments they use to recruit others. By analyzing these beliefs, the podcast aims to better understand the pathways and tactics used to persuade individuals and potentially inoculate others against these ideas.
Navigating Challenging Conversations
The podcast highlights the importance of engaging in challenging conversations without resorting to 'gotcha' moments or confrontational tactics. By building rapport and genuinely listening to the interviewees, the host aims to create an environment conducive to exploring beliefs and uncovering insights. Rather than trying to change minds in a single conversation, the focus is on understanding how individuals arrive at their beliefs and examining the underlying values that influence decision-making.
Balancing Research and Present-Moment Engagement
The podcast discusses the balance between thorough research and being present in the conversation. While some episodes require extensive preparation, particularly those involving sensitive topics, over-researching can hinder genuine conversation and prevent following unexpected threads. The host emphasizes the importance of active listening, asking follow-up questions, and adapting to the flow of conversation to effectively challenge ideas and explore new perspectives.
Engaging in respectful and genuine conversations
In this podcast episode, the importance of engaging in respectful and genuine conversations is highlighted. The speaker uses a metaphor of attacking someone's beliefs versus being shown around their beliefs. They emphasize that attacking beliefs can lead to a defensive mentality, while respectfully exploring and understanding someone's beliefs can lead to a more fruitful conversation. The speaker also addresses the concern of feeling disingenuous, but explains that their genuine curiosity and interest in understanding others' beliefs drives their approach to these conversations.
The challenge of engaging with contrarian positions
Another key point discussed in the podcast is the challenge of engaging with individuals who hold contrarian positions. The speaker shares their experience with someone who formerly belonged to a skeptics group but now holds reactionary and contrarian views. They express frustration because the individual seemed to lack a deep understanding of the topics they were discussing. The speaker also mentions the difficulty of staying focused on one topic when the conversation constantly veers off to other subjects. Despite these challenges, the speaker emphasizes the importance of continuing to engage with different perspectives and valuing genuine curiosity in order to have meaningful conversations.
You've heard me reference Be Reasonable about a billion times lately. Well, that's because it's truly a fantastic show! On it, Marsh talks to people with extremely weird and terrible beliefs, but in a respectful and kind manner. And now that I've finished binging every episode, I wanted to have Marsh on for a discussion! We talk about platforming and de-platforming, arguing vs discussing, which beliefs are beyond the pale, and the ONE time that Marsh genuinely got angry on the show.
Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!
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