Crossing Party Lines in Action
What to Look for in This Video
- Prioritize perspective sharing over debate – We are not here to win, convince, or change people’s minds.
- Treat everyone with respect – We do not allow name calling, blaming, shaming or otherwise demonizing people with different views.
- Speak only for themselves – We want to hear why their views make sense for them.
Questions Inspired by the Video
Why is this such a small group?
This was a special recording event. CPL usually does not record conversations, so attendance was intentionally small. Typical numbers for each breakout room range from 10 to 14 participants.
Do you try to make sure all views or parties are represented?
No. While all voices/views are welcome and appreciated, who you will encounter at a given CPL conversation depends on who chooses to attend that night.
Did these people really consent to being recorded?
Yes. At the top of the description of this particular event we stated that it would be recorded and that we would use the recording on this website. And at the start of the meeting, each participant explicitly acknowledges the recording and gives permission. We cut most of these sections out to make room for other parts of the conversation.
Do mostly men attend?
Not at all. We have pretty much equal numbers of men and women in our community. Attendance at any particular event varies according to topic.
I didn't see people say what party they belong to. Why?
We at CPL believe labels, even party affiliation, get in the way of understanding. Some people want to share their affiliation and that’s ok, but we don’t ask. As you watch the video you’ll see that what a person shares tells us a lot more about their views than a label would.
Why aren't you showing the chat?
Chat is disabled during the conversation so there’s one shared dialogue, not side discussions. It opens after the formal discussion ends.
What about age? Does CPL only appeal to older folks?
Our members range in age from 16 to 89, though there are more from the over 40 crowd. Our group of moderators skews younger. If you are younger, join us and help ensure that your generation is well represented.
