Lessons in entertainment

A panel discussion included two participants.

The speaker who was pragmatic, who presented both sides of the equation, who pointed to the nuance — was boring.

He presented facts. He explained that the issue wasn’t cut and dried. But his presentation was dull.

The other speaker was fiery, unequivocal, unyielding, and highly compelling. He didn’t acknowledge gray areas … and he garnered all the applause.

Because speaking in absolutes is entertaining.

Because it’s far easier to shout from the extremes than it is to shout from the middle.

But “entertaining” is not the same as “right” and the way forward (empathy, compassion, service to others, and shared vision) is not necessarily entertaining.