Sharing Perspective creates content that models what it looks like to genuinely understand someone who passionately disagrees with you.
The Problem
Research from Beyond Conflict found that on issues like immigration, Democrats and Republicans hold positions that are 40 points apart on a 100-point scale. But each side perceives the gap to be nearly 80 points. People aren't just disagreeing. They're disagreeing with a version of the other side that doesn't exist.
A study from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that the dislike people feel toward the opposing political party is driven largely by false beliefs about what the other party actually thinks, not by real policy differences. When researchers corrected these misperceptions, hostility between the groups went down. The hatred isn't about the issues. It's about the misunderstanding.
Researchers found that anger specifically impairs perspective-taking compared to neutral emotion, sadness, and disgust. When you're angry, you rely more on stereotypes, exercise less critical judgment, and are more likely to accept information that confirms what you already believe while rejecting anything that contradicts it. The angrier the conversation gets, the less either person can actually understand the other.
The Mission
Most conversations about controversial topics go one of two ways: people either avoid them entirely, or they turn into arguments where nobody is actually listening. "I Have A Question" exists because there's a better way.
This project shows people what it can look like to sit across from someone who thinks you're completely wrong, ask real questions, genuinely listen to their answers, and push back without being hateful or aggressive. The goal isn't to reach the "right" conclusion. It's to model the process of honest, open-minded engagement with people who see the world differently than you do.
What We Believe
You don't have to agree with someone to understand them. We focus on accurately understanding why someone believes what they believe, not on changing their mind or finding a compromise.
The best way to understand someone is to ask them questions, not to tell them why they're wrong. We lead with curiosity, not with conclusions.
We don't pretend to be neutral when we're not. If something doesn't make sense, we say so. If someone makes a point that lands, we show it. The conversations are real.
Every conversation starts and ends with respect for the person across from you. You can challenge someone's ideas directly and still treat them with dignity. The moment respect disappears, the conversation stops being productive.