Incivility expects what it isn’t willing to give. We often…
““Incivility expects what it isn’t willing to give. We often fight off, run away from, or exclude others because we believe we’ve already found the answer or solved the problem. Our fixed-position platforms contribute to the degradation of common sense. While it may entertain in the short term, it almost always loses in the long term. Ironically, in this poisoned atmosphere we expect those we’ve shut out to listen to us as we try to convince them of our perspective. Can we really expect them to return a favor we’re not extending? And should we be surprised that this approach almost never works?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Incivility arises from refusing to give what we demand, leading to exclusion and short‑term entertainment but long‑term loss of common sense.
In simple terms: Being rude comes from not offering what we expect, hurting dialogue.
Practice openness and humility in conversation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- online forums
- workplace meetings
- political debates
- family discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you listen without expecting reciprocity?
- What steps foster genuine dialogue?
It assumes all parties are equally willing to listen.