Targeting Civility
Sun Feb 08 2026
We’re recording this episode at the very beginning of January, our first session after the New Year, and yet it does not feel new at all.
In this podcast, listeners send in questions that we do not see before we press record, and we answer them cold, with no preparation. Hopefully that makes us relatable, because life often presents us with difficult questions at unexpected moments.
Our first listener question for this episode comes from the lovely village town of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, with John setting the following query: “Can we disagree with civility?”
Stuart makes the stark point off the bat: if we choose to? Yes. End of episode. Spoiler alert: the episode doesn’t end at this point!
William argues that managing anger and emotional baggage is essential, but acknowledges that antagonism can arise when someone approaches aggressively. He suggests that in some situations, people respond with aggression because it is the only language they know.
The second question for today’s ramble comes from Ray in Newmilns, Scotland - “What do you think about someone having a target and announcing it all over social media, as opposed to coming off social media, focusing on the target, and then going back on social media to announce it?”
Stuart observes that on social media, even getting through the day is often framed as a series of targets, with people sharing every small achievement. He suggests that when people put targets or goals out into the world, they should make them relatable and meaningful to others, otherwise it becomes unfocused self expression, rather than something people can genuinely engage with.
William speaks from experience when he explains that spending too much energy on social media, worrying about what or how to post, can distract from the actual goal. He adds that new ideas often spark impulsive action, but taking a longer term approach, reflecting on the idea, and involving collaborators, can strengthen the outcome and make the project more effective.
Stuart believes that focusing on a goal in private allows better concentration and avoids the need for external validation. He emphasizes the impact of reappearing with a finished project, noting that oversharing the journey can bore the audience and reduce engagement.
William believes that adults still carry a child inside them seeking approval, which drives much of their social media activity. He warns that people often overinvest in social media, putting energy into things that do not need to be shared.
What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com
Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities
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This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.
Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside
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We’re recording this episode at the very beginning of January, our first session after the New Year, and yet it does not feel new at all. In this podcast, listeners send in questions that we do not see before we press record, and we answer them cold, with no preparation. Hopefully that makes us relatable, because life often presents us with difficult questions at unexpected moments. Our first listener question for this episode comes from the lovely village town of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, with John setting the following query: “Can we disagree with civility?” Stuart makes the stark point off the bat: if we choose to? Yes. End of episode. Spoiler alert: the episode doesn’t end at this point! William argues that managing anger and emotional baggage is essential, but acknowledges that antagonism can arise when someone approaches aggressively. He suggests that in some situations, people respond with aggression because it is the only language they know. The second question for today’s ramble comes from Ray in Newmilns, Scotland - “What do you think about someone having a target and announcing it all over social media, as opposed to coming off social media, focusing on the target, and then going back on social media to announce it?” Stuart observes that on social media, even getting through the day is often framed as a series of targets, with people sharing every small achievement. He suggests that when people put targets or goals out into the world, they should make them relatable and meaningful to others, otherwise it becomes unfocused self expression, rather than something people can genuinely engage with. William speaks from experience when he explains that spending too much energy on social media, worrying about what or how to post, can distract from the actual goal. He adds that new ideas often spark impulsive action, but taking a longer term approach, reflecting on the idea, and involving collaborators, can strengthen the outcome and make the project more effective. Stuart believes that focusing on a goal in private allows better concentration and avoids the need for external validation. He emphasizes the impact of reappearing with a finished project, noting that oversharing the journey can bore the audience and reduce engagement. William believes that adults still carry a child inside them seeking approval, which drives much of their social media activity. He warns that people often overinvest in social media, putting energy into things that do not need to be shared. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside