We might all know by now that in these hyper-political times of polarization and toxic communication that people often live in their own hermetically sealed thought ‘bubbles’ or ‘echo chambers’. This is a problem because if we often only hear and listen to people who share our views and fail to communicate with people outside our bubble. Consequently, our political world will become ever more polarized. To counter this, the story goes, we should watch news and talk to people with different viewpoints – outside our echo chamber. The theory is that this will allow us to escape from our bubble.

Well, how is that going for you? Imagine a liberal Democrat speaking to a MAGA Republican in the American political context. For me, my efforts to talk with friends, relatives, or acquaintances outside my political bubble led to insane debates, anchored in different facts, different perspectives, dramatically different rationalities. I find it so impossible that I cannot wait to speak with someone in my bubble.

These discussions reminded me of a line from Woody Allen’s wonderful 1977 film Annie Hall. Allen was playing the part of Alvy Singer. In a visit with Annie’s family, we see Alvy sitting in the bedroom of Annie’s brother, Duane. He is listening to Duane, played by Christopher Walken, who was spinning a fantastical tale of his impulse to crash his car when Alvey pauses and pardons himself, saying: “Right. Well, I have to go now, Duane, I’m due back on the planet Earth”.

Talking across political bubbles is not easy – maybe impossible in many cases. You must find a way to exit from the conversation, like Alvy did, and just hope that reality catches up with those who embrace beliefs or attitudes you find to be ridiculous. And they are not open to an alternative, preferring to attack your viewpoint or bring up an attack on another politician or issue to justify their position.

It is in that sense that I want to get back to my bubble. Am I wrong?