That "found common ground" thing is key. I see it all the time now, like people who used to just yell about politics online actually talking at the gym and realizing they agree on some basic stuff. Or my friend who hated vegan food until his sister cooked a meal for him and he got why she made the choice. A lot of these big debates just need a real conversation over lunch to break down the walls.
Isn't it funny how online arguments vanish when you're sharing a bench press? The internet just pumps up our worst instincts for no reason. Maybe every political forum needs a free lunch program instead.