Open discourse has become increasingly fractured, with conversations often dominated by outrage, misunderstanding, and division. An earlier article, “The Vital Role of Open Discourse and Why America Needs to Reclaim It,” highlighted these challenges, and now author Jay Jackson, in his book Decent Discourse (A #1 Release on Amazon), explores what it will take to restore productive communication. Jackson is now a Colonel in the Air Force reserves and is a decorated Air Force JAG who deployed to the Middle East six times in his career, and spent three years working with Joint Special Operations Command. While in Active Duty in the Air Force, he graduated in the Top 10% from Commissioned Officer Training and Squadron Officer School. In 2019, he was awarded the Judge Advocates Association’s United States Air Force Outstanding Career Judge Advocate. Jackson strives to continue serving his community and is running for the legislature in Papillion and La Vista.
Jackson outlines five key issues contributing to the erosion of open discourse, beginning with a wry observation about the current cultural moment, where “everyone’s awful all the time.” He explains that social media amplifies the most extreme and emotionally charged content, making disagreements seem larger and more personal than they really are: “Social media algorithms are designed to push you the worst content, right? The stuff that makes you angry, and it’s the stuff that makes you saddest, the stuff that makes you want to respond to. And so it’s easy to believe that to look around and think that that’s really how everybody is.” Yet stepping away from online outrage reveals a different reality; most people are far more reasonable in person than the digital world suggests. Rebuilding open discourse, Jackson argues, starts with genuine human connection, listening, engaging with others, and seeking solutions together rather than scoring imaginary points in an argument.
Another major challenge Jackson highlights is the tendency to “other” those with differing opinions, turning people into caricatures rather than seeing them as people. He explains that without real relationships, assumptions and harmful stereotypes fill the gaps, making it easy to judge others and make statements on perceived beliefs. These misconceptions contribute to polarization and reinforce a system of echo chambers, where people only seek out views that confirm their own. Jackson argues that building in-person connections and engaging with diverse perspectives are essential steps toward bridging these divides and restoring healthier, more open discourse: “You can’t just sit there and consume, deep dive, six hours down the rabbit hole of your chosen thing one day. You have to get perspectives from other people, other news sources, entrusted ones.”
Polarization, Jackson notes, is not a new phenomenon, but the speed and design of modern social media have made it more visible and emotionally charged. Platforms reward anger and sensationalism, which can make disagreements feel personal and extreme. He points out that, “Sometimes, some historical perspective helps us take a deep breath, the world is not gonna end. We can unplug, our country is gonna go on, and we’re going to be okay. And so I don’t think that it’s particularly new, this idea of political polarization. I do think that there are a number of factors around it that are making it more dangerous in our time.” Echo chambers intensify this effect, as people increasingly seek affirmation rather than information, limiting their understanding of differing perspectives. Jackson stresses that engaging with a variety of credible sources and intentionally connecting with people who hold different views are critical practices for fostering open, thoughtful discourse. “If you’re going to get out of your echo chamber, you’re going to meet people that disagree with you and challenge you sometimes boldly, sometimes not with a lot of grace… And you need to be able to have the humility to absorb that and assume the best intentions from them, and not view them as an enemy or bad, you, or others, because of that.”
As highlighted by Jackson, there’s a growing tendency towards oversensitivity, in which disagreements are often perceived as personal attacks. Efforts to make emotional spaces safer, while well-intentioned, can sometimes lead people to assume the worst intentions of others. This environment, he notes, can shut down conversation and make even minor disagreements feel threatening, which further weakens open discourse.
To counter this, Jackson emphasizes the importance of staying open during challenging or uncomfortable conversations. Practicing openness, distinguishing a question of opinion from an attack on identity, and intentionally engaging with people who hold different views can help build understanding: “Practice is probably the first question, right? You have to be, if you live your whole life in a little bubble, it’s going to feel really weird when you rub up against somebody who, you know, doesn’t agree with everything that you agree with. And then, on the other hand, if you live your life with real relationships with people that you talk about are things then when you have those moments, they’re more routine. And you can understand it; it doesn’t hurt your feelings…I don’t like to disagree with people. I would rather we all get along, but it’s important that I think we just, we practice that and really be intentional about having relationships with people.” These skills require time and effort, but Jackson argues that they are essential for fostering respectful, thoughtful dialogue in a divided society.
Ultimately, It’s stressed by Jackson that restoring open discourse is a shared responsibility that begins with individual choices.
Limiting social media use, seeking out reliable sources of information, engaging with people who hold different perspectives, and practicing respectful conversation are all practical ways to make a meaningful impact. He also emphasized that schools play a pivotal role by creating spaces to learn emphasizing the importance of, “History and civics, being informed, having a little context for what the Constitution means or all of the crazy, crazy things that have happened in our country that allow everybody to take a deep breath and say, hey, we’ve gone through some really hard things. And we’ve solved them before. It’s going to be okay. ” These community spaces provide spaces for debates, discussion, and growth that teach not just facts, but the skills to communicate thoughtfully and listen actively. Yet, Jackson makes it clear that real change does not come solely from institutions; it begins with everyday interactions, in moments as simple as asking questions, assuming good intentions, or stepping outside familiar social circles. By taking small, intentional steps and modeling decency and openness in daily life, he believes it is possible to gradually rebuild trust, understanding, and civility, laying the foundation for a healthier and more resilient public forum.
