Idiots Are Everywhere. Here’s How to Cope | Joshua Johnson | TED (Level 1)

A journalist spoke about difficult people. He learned a simple way to talk with them. Do not stay neutral. Move closer. Try to understand them. In one example, he talked to a man who liked Confederate monuments. The journalist asked tough questions. The man stopped talking. The journalist felt bad. He did not understand the man's story. Later, he learned to ask better questions. He wanted to know more about the person. He compared it to a doctor. A doctor studies problems closely. The journalist also talked to a former police officer. He heard pain in the officer's voice. He asked about it. The officer said something honest. The journalist learned: you do not have to like someone, but you can learn from them. Remember to ask short questions and listen to their story.