> This assume all perspectives/arguments are valid. It assumes no such thing. > Should we listen to the arguments put forth by someone who believes the Earth

> This assume all perspectives/arguments are valid. It assumes no such thing. > Should we listen to the arguments put forth by someone who believes the Earth is flat? Listening does not imply joining in belief. Listening is the act of developing an understanding of another's perspective and why they hold to that perspective. The keyword being understanding, not agreeing. What we should learn from John Francis is to always be willing to listen; that if we want to live in a world where people listen to us, we have to be willing to listen to those people as well. If we want a society that uses civil discourse as a means of growing, we are obligated to learn how to listen and understand. We are under no obligation to agree with what we hear, but we do owe it to others to understand where they are coming from, and why they hold the belief they have. And on the fortunate occasions, perhaps to learn from what they have to say.