Ms Sichter, why did you take part in the training programme? 

Silke Sichter: I am often on social media, I read a lot and also post, mostly for work. Of course, I always find posts that I would like to comment on. I'm often torn and ask myself how I can take a clear stance without provoking, offending or even hurting anyone. After all, I want to make a positive difference.

Ms Sahebi, are these typical motives for the participants in your training courses? 

Gilda Sahebi: The motives vary greatly from person to person. We have many people who are not yet active on social media but are interested in it. Others no longer find their way around and feel overwhelmed. Some are more interested in their own children: they want to have an idea of what they experience online. And then there are people who are worried about the division and polarisation in society. 

Ms Sichter, have you ever posted a post that was met with hate speech or conspiracy narratives? 

Silke Sichter: In fact, I have always avoided using posts that could provoke such a reaction. I always felt a certain insecurity because I simply do not have enough experience with the digital discussion culture. I find it difficult to exchange two-liners with people I basically know nothing about. How can that work? I had too many questions that I didn't know the answers to. How can I put forward the right arguments? Is it even right to want to convince people? 

Now you know the answers?

Silke Sichter: I have realised that very often it is not about convincing someone. You should often just listen and ask questions instead of focussing on the counter-speech and counter-arguments. Now I would like to try out entering into dialogue more intensively. 

Ms Sahebi, can you describe your experiences with hate speech?

Gilda Sahebi: I experience it every day. There have been publications about me that have been met with a lot of hate speech. I have learnt to deal with it. My spiritual teacher once wrote to me: What is not love, is not real. I am not interested in what those who show me hatred write. They are projecting something. It has nothing to do with me.  

Do you have a specific strategy for dealing with this?

Gilda Sahebi: I do not have to prove anything to anyone. I do not have to contradict anyone. I do nothing to be liked. If people hate me online, that is their decision. It is a projection. 

How do you deal with disinformation?

Silke Sichter: I found it exciting to realise the differences between misinformation and disinformation. False information is passed on unintentionally. With disinformation, someone makes an effort to deliberately misrepresent things in order to achieve a certain effect. But even before the training, I had already learnt to consult several sources and, above all, to question the sources.

Gilda Sahebi: If more people had this curiosity, if they were open to really finding out about things, then we would not have so many problems. Disinformation thrives on the fact that many people come with preconceived stories and only look for the information that fits into these stories without questioning anything.

Ms Sichter, is there a particular core idea that you took away from the training course?

Silke Sichter: I have two words in my head that describe what I learnt from the seminar very well: It is about appreciation, for yourself and others, and media literacy - both of which are good tools against hate speech and disinformation. We cannot have enough of both, especially with regard to our values and our precious democracy.

Ms Sahebi, is there a particular core idea that you would like to pass on to the participants of the training courses? 

Gilda Sahebi: We should realise that there is something positive about realising that we were wrong with one of our positions. Because then we have learnt something. If you are always right, you learn nothing. With such an attitude, we can enter into discussions openly.