The violent attack on beloved Independent for Indi, Helen Haines, has been followed by an avalanche of commentaries on the poor state of our society, our democracy and public discourse.

The presenters reflect on the main themes in these responses, namely:

1. poor standards of behaviour and debate set by political leaders
2. loss of civility in the 'public square' of the Internet and social media
3. pervasive misogyny and racism
4. lack of support for people struggling with their mental health
5. social grievance, and democratic/social exclusion from sites of power
6. public dehumanisation of whole groups including migrants, first nations people and Palestinians.

They argue we need to reclaim democracy (in a meaningful sense), and stop big tech companies taking over and degrading public discourse for profit. Politicians need to take responsibility for their uncivil behaviour as well, and assist in creating a kinder, fairer, and more caring society. Overall we need a preventive approach that addresses the conditions that can make violence attractive in the first place.