[iisan7]

I think you're implying there is a supply problem but I think it's a demand problem. I could go to a cafe right now. But when I get there, there's going to be mainly (1) people waiting for orders to go (2) people working on laptops and (3) if it's Sunday morning, just maybe a group of old folks chatting. None of those groups (except maybe the last) would react well to someone sitting down next to them and saying, "hey, so I read about X, what do you think?" It's too bad, but I don't see how we could bring that back. I don't think anyone wants to listen and talk and be challenged, they'd rather be affirmed, literally rather listen to a podcast on the same topic than to discuss anything. I don't know how to invigorate a culture of debate and deliberation except by normalizing it among schoolchildren.

[TimTheTinker]

> I don't know how to invigorate a culture of debate and deliberation except by normalizing it among schoolchildren.

I have heard that many children in the US are being trained as political activists, instead of being trained to think critically and speak/write articulately. Is that true?

[Mountain_Skies]

New York City public schools has the 'Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning & Social Change' (grade 6 through grade 12) and 'Cornerstone Academy for Social Action' (pre-kindergarten through grade 5).

[caditinpiscinam]

I disagree that people only want to be affirmed -- people are constantly getting into debates and arguments on the internet

[dpassens]

In my personal experience, most of them do so precisely to be affirmed, not to have their minds changed. Because what are upvotes, if not affirmation? Even better if you manage to convince the other person, but that's entirely optional.

[ta1243]

Not to change their mind though