A gentle persuasion - the carpool conversations

[demnan]

I ride to work with 3 white male Republicans who are relatively affluent. One of them, the most Republican of all, I work with. They're all terrific guys who would do anything for you and we get along relatively well. Occasionally we will talk about politics in a detached manner (I'd never persuade them otherwise). But I feel a gradual persuasion going on. I found to my great surprise that they aren't fundies, freepers or anti-choice. So I have an in. Some of my talking points:

"I believe if most people followed the issues they would vote for the Democrats, because the Democrats favor issues people approve of"

"Howard Dean thought that gun control should be handled by the states"

"I won't vote for anyone who would deny a woman's right to choose - this is a crucial issue, especially in the state" (re Virginia elections)"

One of these guys did admit this morning that "we don't get the proper news from the news media". They have been rather impressed by the news from NPR that I force them to listen to when I drive.

We'll keep the dialog going, and I'll keep it friendly, maybe I'll make a little headway. It doesn't hurt to say I volunteer for the Democratic party either. People tend to respect you if you act on what you believe.

[pansypoo53219]

1. in your face

doesn't work. sort of like torture.
honey is a good thing.

[abluelady]

2. You're Right

But it is sooooo hard to use honey for me. I must learn. If I could gently persuade one person, how good it must feel.

[happyslug]

3. I once told someone to Read St Paul to see how to convert people

First, lets define some terms. Propaganda is now viewed as a "bad-name, yet Madison Avenue does it all the time, they no call it "Advertising", "Brandings" and other Euphemisms. I liked the term Propaganda for it is the most accurate, Propaganda was a term invented during the Counter-Reformation as the term for messages used to propagate the faith. i.e. Convert by messages. Given this background hen I use the term Propaganda I am using it in this sense, i.e. efforts to get a message to people.

Now St Paul is a classic propagandist, he NEVER insulted anyone. He does not say, follow me or you will go to hell. He does not say, Christ is the way and all other gods are false. He is very careful to balance his message without insulting anyone. A classic propagandist.

Joseph Goebbels followed the same rules, his preference was for gentle propaganda not in your face propaganda. Gobbles would have liked "Casablanca" for its low key anti-nazi message and we all must sacrifice to defeat the Nazis message (Watch Casablanca that message is throughout the movie, just enough to get you to know the message, but not so large as to overcome the traditional love triangle aspect of the movie). For more on Goebbels see: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/goebbels.html
http://goebbels.8k.com/

Both St Paul and Goebbels knew that to get convince someone of your message you must first get him or her to listen. Thus any message must NOT force someone to defend one's self nor defend past beliefs (and it is best if the message is also entertaining). Thus make the first step is always make the message pleasant for the listener. Once you have his attention then you can slowly convert him to your side. People can be converted this way, even when they would have rejected the final message if it was the start of the process to convert (For Example St Paul knew asking the Greeks to end their worship of their gods would lead to rejection, instead St Paul just tells his potential converts to worship through Christ.

My point here is simple, always tailor your message to your audience. Do NOT offend them so that they do NOT listen to your points. If it means agreeing to some to they points do so, provided the points do NOT conflict with your final message (For example St Paul NEVER agrees that it is good to worship the Greek Gods, but then accepted the point it is good to worship provided that worship did not violate Christian beliefs).

You have to do the same, hold to your basic beliefs, and concede the what good points the GOP does make (For example it is good to have an adequate defense), but do NOT give in to arguments that defeat your point (For example, while it is good to have a defense, defense of the US does not mean occupying Iraq). Good Propaganda is hard, you have to balance getting the message out with the concept NOT to close the ears of the people you want to hear that message. As one adversing man said in the late 1800s, half of his ads do not work, but he does not know which half. Trying to figure out what works can be difficult, but NEVER do anything that offends someone you are trying to convert. St Paul never did that, Goebbels never did that, Madison Avenue never Does that, and even in the Political arena, you rarely see Voter's beliefs being attacked (Candidates are attacked but not voters). Follow that same rule. Do not offend and slowly convert these people.