In stepping back from many of our most pressing issues (not only here at DU, but everywhere), it's the shutting down of conversation altogether via many tactics (intentional and perhaps unintentional) that prevents us from coming together as a citizenry to discuss how to address these issues.
They are all BIG issues. It's all very complex, whether we're talking gun control measures, healthcare (mental health and more), racism and other institutionalized inequality, and so on.
They're big issues so it requires genuine discussion, back and forth, rather than merely broadcasting one view repeatedly. People need to listen more.
What upsets me most specifically regarding the gun issue is the absolute intransigence to have a conversation. If an idea or suggestion is thrown out for consideration, it's quickly swatted down, as though that's the end of it. Done. End of story.
That happens with everything, of course, but we must to learn to have a conversation rather than broadcasting our views all the time, as I see it.
I love the Internet and boards such as DU, but we need to take it all to the next level to learn how to have authentic, honest conversations rather than simply broadcasting an opinion.
That's what I think. 
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