[babyblueblanket]

I don't know if it's true that face-to-face communication is actually better when you begin to talk about controversial, political subjects. There's a reason why it's been common courtesy not to talk about politics or religion at any large family gathering.

[littlestymaar]

The key word here is “large” I think. It's deeply irrational, but in front of people, discussion usually become a contest to assert one's status among the group, and it's just too hard to “surrender”.

[babyblueblanket]

But importantly, face-to-face doesn't do anything to mollify that, which is against what the GP says.

[littlestymaar]

Oh fortunately it does, people don't usually insult each other in real life at family events. Yes people are speaking louder and louder, and ends up using a ton of sophism and Ad hominem but that's it. On Twitter this is what a civil conversation looks like…