It’s election time here in the U.S., and as any American can tell you, politics these days isn’t democracy in action, it’s a blood sport. Not only are politicians having a tough time being civil to each other, so, too, are members of the voting public. Even among my own family, we try to avoid politics and stick with less controversial topics–like religion and sex.

There may be hope, however, for those who long for a better way to debate the important issues of our times.

As reported today on Colin Rule’s Blog at the Center for Internet and Society, the Public Conversations Project seeks participants for RedBlue, an online dialogue project that will bring people on opposite ends of the political spectrum together:

RedBlue will be an interactive Internet application that will provide an exciting yet safe way to engage directly with someone on “the other side” of the political spectrum. This new approach to civic engagement is designed to leave behind the confrontational and polarizing forms of discourse that dominate today’s Red vs. Blue debates and reintroduce Americans to the old-fashioned notion that in matters of public policy, there can be room for reasonable people to disagree.

RedBlue will create a private, one-on-one online dialogue process by matching participants with contrasting views. “Counterparts” will learn about the ground rules of productive dialogue, then engage on a difficult issue by viewing or reading a fictional narrative scenario that frames a front-page issue in personal, rather than theoretical, terms. Their email-style discussion will be monitored by a “virtual facilitator” that will make suggestions, provide feedback, and offer to step in when the heat of the moment threatens to derail the civility of the dialogue.

For more information, visit http://www.redblueus.org/.

British attorney Justin Patten is celebrating one year of blogging excellence at Human Law, a weblog that explores the human connection between law and technology.

Happy birthday to Human Law and to Justin–congratulations.

Since this blog goes a long way in defining my online persona, I generally take care in what I say and how I say it. As a mediator who pays close attention to language and communication, I know how much words matter.

However, the following post requires me to use a word that your mother would wash your mouth out with soap for saying. If foul language offends you, then I will not be offended if you would prefer to skip over this post.

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Every workplace has one–often several. They are a radioactive source of conflict, negativity, and stress. Chances are you’ve worked alongside one. In fact, on occasion in our lives, if we’re truly honest with ourselves, we’ve been one.

I’m talking about the subject of the latest book by Bob Sutton, Professor of Management Science and Engineering in the Stanford Engineering School, and Co-Director of the Center for Work, Technology, and Organization. Coming out in February 2007 is The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t, a book that offers advice on understanding, neutralizing, and inoculating your workplace against this workplace scourge.

If you’re wondering why Sutton put the “A” word in the title of his new book, it wasn’t due to lack of imagination or vocabulary. In Sutton’s view, as he explains on his blog, “asshole” carries a visceral clout no other word can:

… no other word works as well for describing these demeaning and mean-spirited people. …when I tangle with [a] nasty person, I don’t think “what a jerk” or “what an abusive person.” The first thing that comes to mind is “what an asshole.” That is also the word that nearly everyone I know uses to describe these creeps, even though they may later censor it…

That certainly resonated with me, and probably with any mediator who has ever dealt with workplace conflict. It undoubtedly resonates with anyone who has ever held a job.

Especially in a workplace filled, with, well, you know who.

The World Directory of ADR Blogs just keeps growing. Today’s additions are:

Votelaw
Just in time for U.S. Election Day on November 7 comes Votelaw, a blog occupying the intersection of politics and law: redistricting, campaign finance, the right to vote, election law and administration, and politicians in trouble. Votelaw is published by Alabama attorney and mediator Edward Still, whose mediation practice includes not only employment, discrimination, civil rights, consumer, education, and land use cases but also voting and elections matters. (Edward will also be hosting the November 6 “Law Blog the Vote” edition of Blawg Review, the weekly review of the best in law blogging.)

The Work It Out Blog
The Work it Out Blog is published by Allan Revich, a Toronto-based mediator and negotiator specializing in union and management issues. This blog contains information and commentary about conflict management and negotiation, with an emphasis on workplace issues.

A warm welcome to both these blogs.

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My friend Geoff Sharp, incidentally, has written “The Mediator’s Guide to the Blogosphere“, a superb article posted at Mediate.com and their first one ever on blogging, which spells out some compelling reasons why mediators should get in on the blogging fun. Don’t miss it.

(As always, if you wish to add your blog or someone else’s to the World Directory of ADR Blogs, please let me know. It’s a commercial-free site, and there is no cost to be listed. The Directory has information on submitting your blog and submission guidelines.)

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