Rediscovering civility, respect and the art of disagreeing well

Key points

• Academics Daniel Heller and Farid Zaid, who co-direct the Monash University Brave Conversations Project, say emotion plays a large part in conflict and that people can pause before responding. Governor-General Sam Mostyn, a close friend of Helen Haines, urged Australians to debate with greater civility, saying words matter.
• Scanlon Foundation Research Institute CEO Anthea Hancocks said many people find disagreeing well hard.
• The experts recommend asking open questions to understand other views, and say a good disagreement leaves both people feeling taken seriously.