How students at Colorado State helped teach their community to stop talking past each other and manage complex problems

Research shows that humans are susceptible to simple stories and biased toward arguments that fit their current perspectives. Here’s how to confront those tendencies.

By: Martin Carcasson, Colorado State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 1, 2026

Words: 1,359

Last Updated: 10 hours, 44 minutes ago

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By Martin Carcasson, Colorado State University

On a Thursday evening in Fort Collins, Colorado, community members gathered around tables to discuss whether the city should allow marijuana dispensaries within city limits.

Rather than take turns for two minutes at a microphone, the participants considered various viewpoints, engaged with quality information and focused on exploring solutions that worked to mitigate the concerns of the critics but still supported the goals of the advocates.

Gatherings like this …

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