“[Y]ou can argue until you are blue in the face and they won’t change their stance.” To be a good debater, Daniel Lemire follows three rules. One of them is shelving the idea that you’ll be able to change someone’s core stance. Instead, he says that we must find common ground and entice the other person to drop bad arguments. Even if you never change someone’s stance, he believes that the debate is still productive since you’re able to pinpoint weaknesses in arguments. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
