How to Have an Argument about Politics

They say "never discuss religion or politics", but if you absolutely must, here are a few rules that might come in handy.

1. Assume the other person is basically good and kind and wants other people to do well.

2. Stick to this assumption for as long as you possibly can, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. (I know this violates the prescriptions of Bayesian reasoning. So what?)

3. Remember what you hopefully learned in school: Some conflicts are about ends, others about means.

4. Keep in mind that what might seem like a conflict about ends could actually be a conflict about means. Remember point no. 1 in this respect.

Hopefully, this will help to keep you from shouting or being shouted at.