Fishing Without Bait

Fishing Without Bait 524 presents the third and final part of Jim Ellermeyer’s conversation with Missy Sorg about political differences, social-media behavior and the possibility of maintaining meaningful relationships with people who do not share our beliefs. Rather than trying to win a debate, Jim and Missy examine what happens when people listen to respond instead of listening to learn. They discuss the echo chambers created by social media, the pressure to react immediately and the assumptions people make based on political labels. Jim introduces the space between stimulus and response as the place where choice and freedom can be found. Missy speaks candidly about her experiences working with Republican candidates and organizations. She explains why she does not automatically block every hostile commenter, how she decides when a response crosses the line and what can happen when community members answer an argument with research and supporting information. She also shares a personal story about telling