14: James Hoggan On the Toxic Levels of Public Discourse

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Patrick Coffin

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4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2017

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Vancouver-based PR director Jim Hoggan (pronounced Hogan) thinks strong disagreement can co-exist with civility. In today’s media culture, modes of communication (from emails to memos to blog posts) have become more swords than words.

Have you noticed how many YouTube debates are described as some version of, “Watch our hero eviscerate (or slaughter/kill/slay/own/etc. the other guy”? We can’t seem to disagree without destroying.

This is why Hoggan wrote I’m Right and You’re An Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean it Up.

What’s interesting is that he takes a definite (possibly dogmatic) stand on what used to be called global warming – rebranded as “climate change” – so his communication lessons are tied to a controversial topic from the get-go. But the merits or demerits of Al Gore’s approach to climate change weren’t the topic of the interview – the need for engagement at the level of facts and not facetiousness was. And in this interview, Mr. Hoggan models the civility he recommends.

(Surely his Canadianness gives him an edge in the nice department…)

In this context I can also, without shame, recommend my free e-booklet, Stay Cool When the Argument Heats Up: Proven Strategies for Calm Conversing. Get your free copy by subscribing to my Inside Scoop Newsletter here.

Yes, Virginia, we can disagree without destroying.

BOOKS RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE

I’m Right and You’re An Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean it Up. by James Hoggan

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to episode number 14 of the Patrick Coffin show.
0:04.0	Warning, a following podcast contains ideas and arguments that might challenge your world view.
0:09.0	If you feel emotionally triggered or microagressed, please go to the nearest safe space and make yourself a cruelty-free, Kale and Keenewa smoothie.
0:16.7	I don't know what the Potra Coffin show is. I don't know what it wants. If it's looking for ransom, I don't know what it wants if it's looking for ransom. I don't have any money.
0:26.0	True or Frank.
0:28.0	You're tired of secularist bullies punching your values in the face.
0:32.0	You're looking for smart commentary. bullies punching your values in the face.
0:33.0	You're looking for smart commentary that doesn't sound like NPR,
0:37.0	with our annoying voices.
0:38.0	You're wondering where we're going and why we're in this handbasket.
0:42.0	If you answer true to any of these, you've come to the right place.
0:46.0	You're about to meet the innovators and influencers who are restoring the Judeo-Christian foundations of our our culture right here on the Patrick Coffin Show.
0:57.0	And now here's your host, Patrick Coffin.
1:09.0	Welcome to the show, I'm so glad you're here. I am indeed Patrick Coffin.
1:10.0	Great topic with a fellow Canadian guest James Hogan is the president of the PR
1:16.5	firm Hogan and Associates and the co-founder of D. Smog blog.
1:20.7	Over the past two decades, Jim has earned a reputation as one of Canada's leading
1:24.5	public relations professionals. His clients have included groups like the
1:28.4	Northwest Cruise Ship Association A&W Foods, the Vancouver Port Authority, Canadian Tire, Canadian Pacific Rail, I could go on,
1:36.7	I want to get straight to the topic, which is his latest book.
1:39.4	It's titled, I'm right and you're an idiot the toxic state of public discourse and how to clean it up
1:46.3	James Hogan joins us now from Vancouver. Sir welcome aboard. I appreciate your time. Thank you for having me
	...

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