Ideally, the point of such a discussion should not be to persuade the other person, nor to be persuaded oneself, but to gain a deeper understanding and respect of the other's position.
I think the website makes it clear that this is for people who are willing to listen to each other. Once that mutual willingness is there, I believe a discussion like this can be very profitable. (Actually, I do not only believe so, I know so from many personal experiences.) Of course you are going to have some bad apples in the lineup who are going to start nasty arguments, but I think the presentation of the website is such that these should be kept to a minimum.
A big thank you to the Accord team from me - in a political age defined increasingly by the demonization of other political/social opinions (something all sides engage in), we desperately need more polite, levelheaded discussions.
I think the website makes it clear that this is for people who are willing to listen to each other. Once that mutual willingness is there, I believe a discussion like this can be very profitable. (Actually, I do not only believe so, I know so from many personal experiences.) Of course you are going to have some bad apples in the lineup who are going to start nasty arguments, but I think the presentation of the website is such that these should be kept to a minimum.
A big thank you to the Accord team from me - in a political age defined increasingly by the demonization of other political/social opinions (something all sides engage in), we desperately need more polite, levelheaded discussions.