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# Responding to Comments About My TED Talk
- URL: https://www.joshuajohnson.me/ted-talk-responding-to-comments/
- Published: 2026-08-18T14:07:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-15T21:48:53.000Z
- Description: They weren't as bad as I expected... some were great!
- Author: Joshua Johnson
- Tags: Podcast, Articles, #Migrated-1791927903932, #Import 2026-10-13 16:50

100,000 views.

In the week since [**my TED Talk**](https://youtu.be/ElYYD7Wx2WE?si=4SZ8rg2iQ0GMfwrZ&ref=joshuajohnson.me) posted on YouTube, it’s already gotten 100,000 views and counting. It crossed that threshold just in the last few hours. It’s a heartening sign that plenty of people are open to improving how we deal with our differences.

My flabbers are completely gasted. WOW.

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/7d/107d565c-65a1-4733-bbac-6025a86babed/content/images/2026/10/3e17f4ae-36b4-4278-879f-a3245a34b925_1212x207.png)](https://youtu.be/ElYYD7Wx2WE?si=xdhWeMLMQ9OFcKNk&ref=joshuajohnson.me)

I’m also amazed by the thoughtfulness of the comments people have posted - not something we’ve come to expect from social media, but there it is! Despite the usual rants and rudeness, there were plenty of smart critiques, worthwhile perspectives and very supportive reactions. There were even a few conversations in the comments that showed people were disagreeing with one another thoughtfully — exactly what I hoped would happen.

This video responds to a variety of YouTube comments on my TED Talk and builds on some of its themes. And yes, I deal with a few of the folks who just could not handle the fact that there’s a gigantic horseshoe hanging from my nose… or at least, they act like there is. I’m amazed at how my piercing unnerves some folks! But it’s okay. I’d rather they bring it up, because then I can address it. So bring it on.

Is there anything else I should’ve addressed in this video? Let me know!

#### FULL TRANSCRIPT

Timestamp: 00:00

Hey there, it's Joshua. I have gotten so many comments on my TED Talk that I am compelled and bursting to respond to them. Rather than respond little by little, I figured I would just do a video and address a bunch of them at once. I want to address the very first word in my talk. A commenter wrote, "Starting a speech with 'idiots,' you have our undivided attention." Another replied, "Yes, that really is an intriguing opening." But then someone asked, "So people are idiots just because they have an opposite opinion?" Another noted, "It is rather how we see people with different opinions... and to learn how to deal with them is important." I got a lot of feedback on my use of the word "idiots" to describe difficult people. Do you know why I used that word right up front? Because that's where the real issue is. It's the people who make you crazy, who you can't deal with—that's where the fault line is the deepest and widest. That's why I gave this TED Talk, that's why I'm building The Resolution, and that's why the audience laughed: because they could relate. I totally get the need not to dehumanize people, but we also need to be honest with ourselves. If indeed we are dehumanizing one another, we can't solve a problem we won't admit actually exists.

  
Timestamp: 01:30

Another commenter wrote: "Everybody has reasons for what they believe. If you want to change minds, you have to know what those reasons are. If you don't want to change minds but you want yours to be correct, you have to find out if people who believe differently from you have good reasons." Yes, that is exactly right. That gets us out of that frustrating territory where we throw up our hands and ask, "How could you possibly think that?" Ask them. Find out. Once you find out, you accomplish two things: first, you create a much more refined, surgical target to address if you want to influence them; and second, you earn permission to change their mind because you have validated them. They know you are actually listening rather than simply insulting them. 

  
Timestamp: 03:00

One viewer commented that the talk revealed "everything wrong with the culture of American journalism—none of the adversarial energy required to hold power to account." Listen, this talk is not about holding the most powerful people to account. I would not interview a senator, a governor, or a president about their policies in this way. That is a different kind of conversation. But for the overwhelming majority of human beings on Earth, this is how people ought to be talked to in everyday conflict because it actually gets results. Holding power to account must be done differently, but for interpersonal conflict, this framework works. Another commenter noted that they had already tried learning about the difficult people around them, concluded it didn't help, and decided going "no contact" was better. Others agreed, pointing out that not everyone deserves your presence, especially if they pose a genuine threat to your health and safety.

  
Timestamp: 04:30

I don't have anything to add to that critique because those commenters are spot on. Everyone is not worth engaging. I would never tell people that you should talk to absolutely everybody. I'm not here to fight with someone who doesn't want to engage, and at a certain point, some folks are not worth continuing with—especially if they harass you, insult you, or are cruel. I would never ask anyone to put up with cruelty. But remember: if you say your piece and walk away, that doesn't mean you've failed to plant a seed. If I plant a seed, water it, and walk away, it may still grow. But if I keep digging it up every three days to see if it's a tree yet, I'll kill it. Sometimes walking away gives ideas room to take root and bear fruit when you least expect it.

  
Timestamp: 06:00

Someone asked in the comments, "What can we do about the idiot in the White House?" I want you to hear me clearly on this: there is nothing you can do about high-level figures whose imperatives are entirely driven by money, power, control, and avarice, and who have operated that way their whole lives. That isn't going to change. But public figures are a handful of people out of billions on the planet. The rest of us have to merge in traffic together, stand in line at the grocery store, work in offices side by side, and drop our kids off at school. We don't have the luxury of insulated lives. Please do not let your approach to everyday people be poisoned by extreme national politics. Don't use bad behavior at the top as an excuse to abandon decency and kindness with each other.

  
Timestamp: 07:30

Finally, a few of you clocked me correctly in the comments, asking, "Is this the guy from The Onion?" and mentioning NPR's 1A. Yes, and yes! I played Dwight Richmond, anchor of the Onion News Network, and I was the founding host of 1A on NPR. So not Josh Johnson the stand-up comedian, but Joshua Johnson: newscaster turned public radio host, turned network anchor, turned comedic actor. Thank you for watching and for supporting this work. There is plenty more to come as we continue building these conversations. Until next time, take good care of yourselves, and I hope you resolve to join me again soon.

## CHAPTERS

- 0:00 - Hello!
- 0:13 - Why I used the word “Idiots”
- 2:30 - Should we be more confrontational?
- 3:55 - Why people use anger as armor
- 5:10 - Walking away doesn’t end your influence
- 7:48 - Sitting with your feelings
- 10:30 - …but what about Trump?
- 12:09 - explaining my nose ring (again)
- 14:40 - No, I’m not THAT Joshua Johnson

## HIGHLIGHTS

### 00:00:46 — Why Start a Conversation About Empathy by Calling People "Idiots"?

I got a lot of feedback on my use of the word "idiots" to describe difficult people. Do you know why I used that word and why I put it right up at the beginning of the talk? Because that's where the real issue is. It's the people who make you crazy, who you can't deal with—that's where the fault line is the deepest and the widest. That's why I gave this TED Talk, that's why I'm building out my project The Resolution, and that's why the audience laughed: because they could relate.

I totally get the need not to dehumanize people; I 100% agree with that. But I also think we need to be honest with ourselves. If indeed we are dehumanizing one another in our private thoughts, we cannot solve a problem we won't admit actually exists. Acknowledging that gut reaction is the first step toward getting past it.

### 00:02:12 — Does Constructive Dialogue Undermine Holding Power to Account?

This isn't about holding the most powerful people to account. I would not interview a senator, a governor, or a president about their policies in this way. That is an adversarial, journalistic conversation, and holding power to account has to be done differently. In that regard, I agree with the critics who say hard questioning is necessary for leadership.

But for the overwhelming majority of human beings on Earth, this approach is how people ought to be spoken to—especially in everyday conflict—because it actually achieves the results you want. Don't confuse holding political figures accountable with navigating disagreements with your neighbors, colleagues, and family. They require entirely different skill sets.

### 00:03:56 — When Is Walking Away Better Than Trying to Reach Common Ground?

Everyone is not worth engaging. I would never tell people that you should talk to absolutely everybody. I am not here to get into a fight with somebody who doesn't want to talk to me. If someone says, "Leave me alone," I will disappear right then. At a certain point, some folks are simply not worth continuing the conversation with—particularly if they dehumanize you, harass you, insult you, or are just cruel. I would never ask anybody to put up with cruelty or threats to their safety.

At the same time, if you say your piece and walk away, that does not mean you've missed your chance to change their mind. If I plant a seed, water it, and walk away, it doesn't mean it will never grow. But I can't keep digging up the seed every three days to see if it's a tree yet, or I'll kill what was planted. Thoughts have a funny way of taking root in people's minds, often growing and bearing fruit when you least expect it.

### 00:05:04 — How Should We Deal With Extreme Figures in the Public Eye?

There is nothing you can do about national figures whose imperatives are entirely driven by money, power, control, and avarice, and who have operated that way their entire adult lives. That is not going to change. But public figures with massive platforms are a handful of people out of billions on the planet.

The rest of us have to merge in traffic together, stand in line at the supermarket, work in the office side by side, and drop our kids off at school. We don't have the luxury of living shielded by insulated wealth and status. Please be careful about letting your views on everyday conflict be warped by extreme political personalities. Don't use bad behavior at the top as an excuse to stop treating your fellow human beings with decency and kindness.