To break with the immediacy and the cleavage that reign on social networks, Simon Jodoin and Jérôme Lussier launched Vaste program last week, a website that hosts opinion pieces from various public figures. They thus hope to create a space for reflection and the exchange of ideas which will not turn into a new battlefield.
“The vast majority of people don’t want to throw bricks at each other and fight incessantly in a form of splitting where you absolutely have to be right. They want to exchange freely, with respect and courtesy,” said Simon Jodoin, columnist on the show. 15-18 of ICI Première and former editor-in-chief of the defunct magazine To see.
In public debates, it is not the ideas that are the problem, according to him, but the platforms on which they are disseminated. Social media — but also traditional media, in a way — do not invite us to take a step back, to take the time to explain the approach on which our opinion is based and to understand the arguments of some others.
“In social debates, it seems that if you are not in one of the two divisive positions, you are nowhere. We want to offer an in-between”, he specifies, before adding that clear-cut, divisive ideas will nevertheless also be welcome. “You have the right to be polarized. But do people understand why you have that opinion? Tell them how you got there. »
“Building Bridges”
About ten collaborators have already accepted the invitation of the two co-founders of Vaste program. Among them: the author and columnist at Homework Normand Baillargeon, the doctor and candidate of Quebec solidaire in the next elections Mélissa Généreux, the jurist and professor of law Louis-Philippe Lampron, the psychologist and specialist in intercultural relations Rachida Azdouz or the host at Radio-Canada Franco Nuovo. Other feathers may be added along the way, on a regular or occasional basis. “The door will be open to people who seek to build bridges rather than to exclude or label others,” argues Jérôme Lussier, jurist and director of parliamentary affairs at the Senate.
The latter will have carte blanche and will be able to address all sorts of subjects, share all sorts of opinions. The goal is precisely to maintain “a non-homogeneous space” where everyone accepts the other’s point of view without “making a big deal of it and slamming the door at the slightest opposite position”, says Simon Jodoin.
“Simon and I, for example, we don’t always agree, but we talk anyway. And as the Anglos say:We can agree to disagree”, says Jérôme Lussier. I think it is interesting for public debate that different voices share the same platform. »
The co-founders also hope to instil this respectful and good-natured spirit in their readers, whom they invite to participate actively by adding comments under the texts. The code of conduct is simple and clear: “You can complete, add, qualify, laugh and contradict, but please remain courteous. Personal attacks, threats, advertisements and other pollution will not be tolerated. The rule is as simple as our moderation processes and as short as our patience,” they write on their site.
Do they fear slippages as we frequently see in comments on social networks? “We will moderate the comments. We’re going to discard what doesn’t make sense, of course,” replies Jérôme Lussier. “I dare to hope that the rude brawlers will not feel called by our proposal and will move on. […] It may be a risky bet, but I want to remain optimistic,” adds Simon Jodoin.