Banker Greg Vetter - City Magazine

Publisher’s Note
Debate Versus Dialogue
By Joe Hauer
With news being provided
to us seven days a week, 24
hours a day, there is much
processing needed to translate
information into knowledge.
It seems unfortunate that the
media is not held accountable
for what they say. In a
time when it is difficult to
understand what we are
getting from our media, let us
examine the words “debate” and
“dialogue.”
DEBATE. Debate is a conversation where there is
a winner and a loser. As the conversation advances,
new facts are added to the case, and that’s where it gets
interesting. These so called “facts” are often distorted
opinions and make it difficult to apply the information.
As we listen to talk show panels, they often present
very different facts. Now, we all know that facts cannot
differ if we are discussing the same issue. So, that ends
the conversation with no conclusion, only confusion. It
leaves us with the burden of processing information into
knowledge without accurate facts.
DIALOGUE. In this conversation, information
is given to advance dialogue. Here, information is
presented as facts and opinions are carefully viewed as
part of the discussion. When dialogue between well-
informed parties occurs, information is presented in a
manner that can be processed into knowledge.
In a business setting, we must work towards these
conditions to make proper decisions. We cannot provide
information that is inaccurate because it closes dialogue
and concludes the process. At this point, a vote is taken
and the process moves ahead.
Recently, Dick Harper, a friend of mine, shared a
book with me that spoke of this process. I found it very
interesting and relevant to today’s world. I think we are
in a period of history where well-informed dialogue
has been lost. I’m not sure why, but if anyone has any
thoughts on this subject, I invite you to share them with
our readers.
May 2010 | Contents
Kilee’s Take 4
Cover story n
Greg Vetter 5
Community Cluster n
Whatever Happened to 8
Mandan on the Move 9
CM/KFYR Salutes 10
Sportswatch 14
URL Radio 17
Wine, Dine and Dance n
Dining Guide 18
Taste of North Dakota 20
Coffee Talk 23
Hobby Hub n
Good Reads 25
Crossword 26
We Drive 27
21st Century N.D. n
State Agencies 29
Home Sweet Home n
Home Additions 30
History n
Historical Buildings 32
FYI n
CM Smarts 33
Safety Tip 34
Health n
Healthy Eating 35
Fitness Focus 37
Travel n
Dakota Day Trips 39
Education n
Education Matters 40
Feature n
Dr. Joel Roloff: Adjust Life 42
Western N.D. n
Western Wellness 44
Don’t Beam Me Back 46
May 2010 3