“Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The purpose of ExplainBothSides is to create opportunities to present both sides of a controversial issue. Often (perhaps even typically) the result of explaining both sides is informative to readers trying to understand an issue for the first time. But the greatest benefit of ExplainBothSides is usually to the explainer -- who has a chance to develop the habit of mind of understanding the perspectives of those with whom the explainer disagrees.
Rules for questions:
Questions must state a specific topic about which there is disagreement, and strive to present that question in a neutral manner (e.g. please avoid using loaded terms). Since the purpose of ExplainBothSides is to create opportunities for explainers, questions are subject to removal if they do not clearly present such an opportunity (for example, by asking for only one side to be explained or by not clearly identifying an established controversy).
Rules for comments:
Top-level responses must make a sincere effort to present at least the most common two perceptions of the issue or controversy in good faith, with sympathy to the respective side. Since the purpose of ExplainBothSides is to create opportunities for responders to explore, especially, the side they disagree with, responses that do not make this attempt, however informative they may be, are subject to removal.
You do not have to personally believe either of the sides you are explaining, instead you must explain on what supposed basis each side's adherents sincerely believe their own side. Indeed, the truth is often in the middle, but it might further the discussion to write the two extreme perspectives of an issue.
