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In today’s tribalistic culture, you can’t speak truth to just one side. Why? Because both sides respond the same way, “But do you see what THEY’RE doing???” It’s never a substantive response to the critique. It’s what I said when my mom caught me being mean to my sister.
Jesus’ advice: deal with the log in your eye, before you pick at the splinter in your enemy’s.
A question I ask when I’m reading critiques of other people words or ideas:
1. Does this critique respond to the ideas?
2. Does this critique present the ideas fairly and charitably?
3. Does this critique sidestep debate by tone policing and saying “how it made me feel”?
1. Does this critique respond to the ideas?
2. Does this critique present the ideas fairly and charitably?
3. Does this critique sidestep debate by tone policing and saying “how it made me feel”?
If the answer to those questions is “yes,” I move on. I don’t judge the person. Maybe they are hurt or having a bad day. But I won’t partake in their judgment.
If you can’t do this. If you find that you easily get taken hostage by emotional responses or straw man arguments.... it’s a good sign you are already invested in tribalism of the far left or the far right.
