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Prompt: Discussing controversial topics with those with contrasting views is not useful because very few people change their mind when questioned about their core beliefs.

Write a response to the prompt in which you discuss whether or not you agree or disagree. Be certain to fully develop your position and carefully consider ways in which your position could be challenged.

My response:

Controversies are inevitably a part of our lives. So more often than not, people tend to have atleast some sort of a basic opinion on things; from politics, to economic policies, to the invitees of a limited guest list of a private party- we always lean towards a side more than the other. Depending on the subject in question, people can have very strong opinions or be neutral to the point that they may seem uninterested. When it comes to sensitive subjects like in politics, people may swing to either side based on their current and past knowledge, family ideas, cultural environment, etc. To say that controversial topics being discussed between parties of opposing opinions is useless is probably a very sensible statement, but could be a little far-fetched, let's analyse why. Now, it may be true, that people rarely change their minds about their core beliefs. But not exposing such minds to an opposing idea may turn out to be more problematic. Being a part of such an amalgamation of communities, people have to learn to adjust and accept new and seemingly frightening ideas at the beginning to maintain harmony. Let's say a person from a remote location, who grew up in a certain culture/religion, followed it to the point where she is deeply revered in her community. This person one day, decides to go to a city, and finds people of different beliefs alot of it very different from her community's and may feel odd. There is a possibility that this person may be amazed by the variety and expansive ideas out there and may be welcoming in which case she is open to a whole new world of ideas. There is also the possibility that this person may be frightened and may refuse to indulge in anything unfamiliar and may limit her understanding of the universe. In the second situation, the person is inhibiting her own growth by not being open to new ideas. Discussing difficult topics can produce huge results, if not always favourable. Discussions act as a catalyst to move certain issues forward. For example, women's rights. Something so controversial since the beginning of time, but so necessary to be talked about. Women didn't have access to a lot of rights that men did but having these conversations even with people who didn't believe that women should have such rights led to the revolution that allows our women right now to have a voice. In the context of trying to have discussions with people with differing beliefs, it is actually very necessary to have difficult conversations, since we tend to inhibit our understanding by only engaging with like minded people. We may be unable to change their mind but we may have started an important conversation that may have pushed them to think or instilled a new idea in them. This process of conversation leads to a chain reaction of spreading ideas or starting new necessary conversations relevant to our daily lives.