The whole of human progress has been achieved through dialogue and debate.
Were it not for dialogue debate, (some of it quite heated to be sure, even in loving families,) and the exchange of ideas and discoveries, we would still be living in caves, chasing our food down with a stone tied to a stick.
Conversation can change the world, always providing it not one sided or conducted with a brick wall, or something even less intelligent or thoughtful, a power hungry psychopath!
Rhrosty.

I can't think of anything more resembling the old "bread and circuses" routine of Rome Than the social media of today.

so many people are virtually anesthetised by it, it's like a drug. The vision of 3 or 4 ladies all tapping away at their screens, oblivious typo each other & others in the room I see all too often, & find most depressing.

Depends what we consere. If we conserve sanity then yes, we have a chance. If we preserve our present mentality no.