Navigating Life in the Age of Cyberspace Workshop: 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 Joseph A. Camilleri

1. Navigating Life in the Age of Cyberspace Workshop: 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 Joseph A. Camilleri

2. Dialogue for the Digital Age • Dialogue in the communication spectrum • What is dialogue • The ethic and purpose of dialogue • What can dialogue achieve – possibilities & limitations • Managing conflict and disagreement

3. Forms of Communication Manipulation – control by appealing to fears, anxieties, emotions Monologue – speak but not listen Debate – score points, resolve by winning Conversation – keep company with, have dealings with another Deliberation – weigh up, carefully consider Dialogue – engage with the other in a common search for truth

4. Key Principles of Dialogue In dialogue We’re engaged in a common search for TRUTH We speak, but importantly we LISTEN This journey is about DISCOVERING SELF & OTHER We value what we hold in COMMON But we also value our DIFFERENCES We share MEMORIES (our understanding of the past We ACKNOWLEDGE / experience the concerns, anxieties, the pain of the ‘other’ = key to healing and reconciliation We work together to meet COMMON GOOD

5. Dialogue as Process In dialogue, we: • Measure and control our reaction to views and positions that we may regard as contrary to our overall views • Try to understand why someone can have such views • Examine our own motives and biases • We are prepared to change our position in the light of what others think, argue, the evidence they bring to the table.

6. Dialogue as Process In dialogue, we: • Look for an agreed set of principles which allows ideas, knowledge, experiences, feelings to flow from both sides • Exchange views and information – usually face-to-face – other forms of communication, whether in words, art, music or gestures, can be a useful complement but no substitute for face-to-face encounters • Clarify our respective viewpoints when asked • Develop conclusions to the exchange in the light of the needs and opportunities of the moment.

7. Disagreement & Conflict • Differences can operate purely at a personal level, and have to do with temperament, the psychology & history of a given relationship. • But they can also be closely linked to social identity (whether based on gender, age, race, culture, religion, ethnicity, nationality, caste, or social status)

8. Dialogue, Difference, Disagreement • Differences and disagreement can be present in dialogue. • But in dialogue, differences and disagreement are managed – they do not end the dialogue. • Conflicting views are brought to the surface. • Insincere politeness is not truthful and often leads to misunderstanding. • True politeness recognises difference and disagreement, and seeks to clarify and understand them.

9. Factors Making for Disagreement, Tension, Conflict • Strong emotions, which often have a long history expression of discontent, frustration, anxiety, insecurity • Differences in cultural, religious or political background • Differences in economic or social status • Biases in relation to gender or sexual orientation • Poor communication / lack of imagination

10. Costs of Unresolved Conflict If well managed, conflict can be creative – it can lead to both personal development and social progress If poorly managed, conflict can have far-reaching destructive effects. It can: • Create barriers to personal fulfilment • Undermine social relationships • Generate hostility, venom, hidden agendas

11. Listening: the Key Skill Active listening: • Focuses conversation • Provides a clear exchange of information • Supports mutual respect • Offers more options for advancing the conversation

12. To becomea better listener • Concentrate • Observe • Reflect • Draw out • Exercise self-control • Respond

13. Ground rulesfor effective dialogue • Listen carefully • Act with respect for yourself and others • Always be constructive • Never think: “I know a lot, they know nothing” • Check out the facts carefully – do not assume you already know them • Go deep inside the issue

14. Keys to effective dialogue • Consider changing how you react to others • Own your feelings – “I” statements • Focus on the behaviour, not the person • Stay flexible • Focus on solving the problem, not placing blame • Look for common purposes and goals • There’s no time like the present

15. What can Dialogue Achieve • Expand the constituencies and voices (e.g. youth, women, business) who bring their expertise and interest to the dialogue • Reach the workings of formal and informal institutions • Identify barriers to positive change and uncover innovative ideas • Sustain an ongoing conversation • Build the capacity of the parties to flesh out ideas and act upon them • Launch new partnerships and strengthen existing ones • Break through "turf wars" and connect fragmented resources • Build over time a consensus sufficient to generate action • Attract constructive media attention

16. Dialogue & Community Engagement Through dialogue we can initiate responses in areas of community need: • Digital screen addiction • Advocacy for digital regulation • Climate Change • Refugees and asylum seekers • Drug addiction • Gambling • Employment • Domestic violence • Other???

17. Dialogue in Education & Media • Dialogue method can be made an integral part of the teaching and learning environment in schools, colleges and universities • Dialogue can be a powerful tool in the preparation, dissemination and use of educational materials (not least through digital platforms) • Dialogue approach can be injected into real and virtual talks, seminars / webinars, forums and public meetings • A dialogical perspective can be used for purposes of advocacy, for example advocacy of radical reform of digital media platfomrs • Dialogue can inform various forms of media engagement: interviews, articles, letters to the editor, current affairs and Q&A type programs • Other???

18. What Does Dialogue Involve? • It involves people –individually or in groups – who are in regular contact with each other. • Who are the members of my network? • How can we connect? • through face to face meetings (small & large) • through gatherings of all kinds • though other methods: • Phone • Email • Newsletter • Social media • Distribution of materials • Visual and performing arts

19. Dialogue & Challenges of Digital Age • Integral part of PARENTING & GRANDPARENTING • Key to all levels of FORMAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION: • Pre-school • Primary & secondary schooling • Higher education For all of which we need CONTINUING SKILLING

20. Equipping Ourselves for the Digital Age • Integral to continuing / lifelong CONVERSATION /COMMUNICATION though our various networks • At home • With friends • As responsible citizens • In our local communities • As members of professional communities [education, media, IT, business, public service] • As members of local, cultural, religious, sporting and other organisations For which we need continuing skilling in dialogue & conversation