#FrenemiesDay is an extension of the Frenemies Project at Virginia Tech. While in its early stages, the initiative has garnered substantial media attention – it seems to reflect the zeitgeist of the time. While entertaining, many of us are looking for ways to stop the mudslinging and increase the empathy, understanding, and decorum of our discourse.
The Frenemies Project features organized workshops that bring people with fundamentally different opinions on important policy questions together for facilitated discussions. Among other techniques, the workshops include ‘role-play simulation exercises’ or ‘serious games’. However, we do not need workshops to be good frenemies. Here is some advice on how to get started.
Here is some of the media coverage the project has received:
- Roanoke Times op-ed (by student Emma Buchanan and I – Oct. 12, 2016)
- Interview with Les Sinclair, WINA Charlottesville (Oct. 25, 2016)
- Interview with Bethany Teague, NBC affiliate WSLS (Oct. 25, 2016)
- Interview with Gene Marrano, WFIR Roanoke (Oct. 26, 2016)
- Live on 5@6:30 show, Washington, DC Fox affiliate (Oct. 27, 2016)
- Interview with Annie Andersen, ABC affiliate WSET Lynchburg (Oct. 28, 2016)
- Article by Amanda MacMillan on How to Disagree About Politics Without Losing Friends in Real Simple (Nov. 1, 2016)
- Interviewed for – Catherine Van Noy, The Burgs, Where has our civility gone? (Oct 26, 2016)
Frenemies Day 2016 