When Talking to the Undecided and People We Don't Agree With

[rpannier]

Remember the old adage, "You catch more flies with honey." This political season I am asking all DUers to remember, "That when confronted with someone who disagrees with you, don't make it personal." Explain your position and why you disagree with them -- You're wrong is NOT an option.
Explain to them how Bush has betrayed a principle that they hold dear. A good sound economy and small government are good ones for the old-guard and libertarian Republicans. Remind them he was NOT forced into expanding the government the way he has, he CHOSE to increase it.
One I use on my libertarian-Republican friends is, "The government can claim you were plotting with terrorists and take away your citizenship, then you lose all your Constitutional protections. You have to prove to a judicial pattern you weren't part of a terrorist threat."
Also when confronting a fence sitter, remind them of the many places you agree with them on. No one person or party is 100% right or wrong (not even me). If you do this, I think you will find them more receptive.
If you want more, read MIchael Moore's book, "Dude Where's My Country?"

[cap]

1. I find making it personal is better...

like telling a 50 year old diabetic that he won't have the pain medication he will need in later life if they cut Medicare. Or telling a white 50 year old male,he'd be better off if we started enforcing EEOC for age discrimination.

[rpannier]

2. Facts

As long as you back it up with facts and you don't patronize him like he's two years old, that tactic is fine.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

6. Feh! They can't be bothered by facts.

Had a friend who still insists that Clinton was offered bin Laden three times. I've debunked him each time he's brought it up, showing him the news articles, and he doesn't care. He believes it's true, so to him, that's the fact.
Neocons can't be bothered by facts when it gets in the way of their opinion.

[outinforce]

3. Oh, Please

Come on, you aren't serious, are you?

Why would you want to deny me (and I'll speak only for myself here) the fun -- the pure joy -- of insulting, denegrating, and thinking up cute litte names to put those who disagree with me in their place?

Besides, if someone, through the opinions they express or the ideas they suggest, demonstrate thereby that they do not subscribe to the orthodox opinions on a variety of issues, aren't they simply "the enemy" -- worthy of nothing but absolute and total contempt?

I have found that it is much more important to show a person who disagrees with me that I am absolutely and totally corect -- and that they are just plain wrong. And if the other person refuses to see things my way, well, then, I get to call them all sorts of names.

(/sarcasm)

[rpannier]

7. If you are trying to sway opinion

I said if you are trying to sway people to your point of view. Not when dealing with people who Jesus Christ himself couldn't convince.

[mmonk]

4. Maybe

but will it really make them think or search for answers? I'd rather tell them something dramatically that will stick in their minds. So if anything happens in the future that catches them off guard or challenges their belief system, they'll search for facts.

[ComerPerro]

5. as far as "talking to those you disagree with"

I have a policy on that, since I fucking despise and loathe reich wingers:

I will give them respect until they commit "three strikes"

I walk away and write them off for the future as a waste of space and time once they :

Repeat a lie as fact for the third time.

Quote O'Reiley, Hannity or Limbaugh three times

or

use a pathetic, vague talking point (such as "at least we didn't have Gore on 9/11") for the third time.

Or, with a lot of wingnuts I know (such as some family members) as soon as I hear something like "nigger" once I completely tune them out.


So, what is my point?

Sure, you catch more flies with honey...

but some flies are content staying around shit.

[rpannier]

8. And I Agree

100%

[jbm]

9. I agree with your post completely......

There are some internet sites I belong to where I can always depend on a few posters to come up with brilliant post titles like,"Liberals are the scum of the earth" and I always feel free to take out all my frustrations on them. In 'real life' though,I've found that doing a lot of listening,playing it very bi-partisan,and then introducing a new perspective or an additional fact seems to make a difference.


Most people I've encountered lately are just trying to figure out what the hell is going on and why. I think allowing them to view you as a source of information and not someone who is openly trying to sway their vote is the most effective route.

That makes it sound like I'm some sort of evil manipulator or something,and I don't think that's accurate. I really do try to give them the correct information,and then I just believe that the majority will see why a vote for Kerry is so important right now.

[rpannier]

10. Thank You

[MrPrax]

11. The Classic Retort...

"Remember the old adage, "You catch more flies with honey."

You catch even more with sh*t! or being angry about what is happening in the country and making other people angry about how they are being lied to, and how traditional allies that have fought bravely besides Americans for real values and principles are being treated cynically by a madly corrupt criminal government.

'When will Kerry start campaigning?' will be a tough one for most, confronted by the electorate they are trying to convince...

I suggest spending more time reminding Kerry that "You're wrong Mr. Bush is AN option" and you should tell him that 'A good sound economy and small government" is not what has made Democrats strong and is merely fiscal conservativism.

[renegade000]

12. i agree 100%

i mean...the facts are on our side, no need to alienate people by being short with them.