I have’t read through the exchange, so here is a bit of a generally applicable advice that tends to always work unless one of the parties is out to get the other (like in the SJW reaction to the “comment 171”). I don’t pretend to imply that I follow my own advice here or elsewhere all the time :)
Active listening makes every exchange less confrontational and more constructive. We may think ourselves rational beings, but we are anything but. Validating the other party’s feelings makes them much more receptive to hearing you out later. So, recap your best understanding of their point, acknowledge that their feelings are valid, without necessarily agreeing with their views, e.g. “It is terrible that before the #metoo movement so many public figures have been able to get away with sexual harassment, something that the movement helped curb to a significant degree” and “I really like the conclusion of your post which says ‘Thanks for everyone who’s listened carefully and neither automatically believed nor automatically dismissed, but thought for themselves’ as this approach protects the victims of sexual abuse while avoiding the pitfalls of potential false accusations.” After the validation, ask a clarifying question, e.g. “What do you think of the #metoo reaction to the case of [...]? On the one hand, …, but on the other hand … .”
Edit: looked through the exchange, and my impression is that you both had tried to find the common ground (with Ben trying especially hard at the beginning), but then the emotions took over and the conversation stopped being productive.
I have’t read through the exchange, so here is a bit of a generally applicable advice that tends to always work unless one of the parties is out to get the other (like in the SJW reaction to the “comment 171”). I don’t pretend to imply that I follow my own advice here or elsewhere all the time :)
Active listening makes every exchange less confrontational and more constructive. We may think ourselves rational beings, but we are anything but. Validating the other party’s feelings makes them much more receptive to hearing you out later. So, recap your best understanding of their point, acknowledge that their feelings are valid, without necessarily agreeing with their views, e.g. “It is terrible that before the #metoo movement so many public figures have been able to get away with sexual harassment, something that the movement helped curb to a significant degree” and “I really like the conclusion of your post which says ‘Thanks for everyone who’s listened carefully and neither automatically believed nor automatically dismissed, but thought for themselves’ as this approach protects the victims of sexual abuse while avoiding the pitfalls of potential false accusations.” After the validation, ask a clarifying question, e.g. “What do you think of the #metoo reaction to the case of [...]? On the one hand, …, but on the other hand … .”
Edit: looked through the exchange, and my impression is that you both had tried to find the common ground (with Ben trying especially hard at the beginning), but then the emotions took over and the conversation stopped being productive.