People sometimes ask where I get my column ideas.

This one comes from August Miller, one of our photographers. Like many today, August wonders when "civility" in society became "hostility." He pointed me to a site where the Web posts were so harsh they bordered on cruelty.

Today, on the radio, on the Internet, in letters, people insist on shouting at each other. Blood boils. Collars burn. Anger abounds.

I agree with August. Our level of discourse is a disgrace.

But I've also noticed something else at work.

Over the years when fuming phone calls would come in, an editor here would take pride in "turning the caller around." He always tried to talk them down. And he had us do it, too.

And here's the thing. It wasn't that hard to do.

Read the full column on MormonTimes.com.