... opportunity to learn empathy for other people’s viewpoints.

I think for me at least this is something I struggle with since I can get detached when in a discussion that I forget others might approach it from a personal viewpoint and therefore I should show empathy and respect. Then bring their world crashing down if I am correct, but end it with a hug. muahahaha.

Seriously though some subjects originate from a personal point of view, a feeling in a relationship for example. When one side brings it up the other might still have to discover this perspective which causes it to be a very one-sided situation, unless the other can show empathy at that moment and learn from it so that moving forward they are going the same direction.