Vaccine Conspiracies: How Stories Transform Over Time
adminThu 2021-06-24
It's interesting to watch how stories transform over time.
Debunking Your Parents
adminTue 2021-06-15
Someone asked about debunking their Mom's belief in chemtrails. This blog explores talking with family who believe false ideas generated by communities that welcome them:
Vaccine Hesitancy Journey Example
adminMon 2021-05-10
A Small Brazilian Town Is Beating Covid-19 Through a Unique Experiment describes the benefits of getting vaccinated early.
This is a great article to share in vaccine-hesitant social media circles. I'd recommend not blasting your opinion: make the goal that a few people read it, rather than telling people which team and which side the article supports before reading it.
The "Standards Sandwich" Against False Equivalencies
adminMon 2020-10-05
The media has difficulties countering lies.
George Lakoff recommends countering lies with "Truth Sandwiches" —
Punch Nazis, Respect Nazis — Politics as Judgment vs Politics for Power
adminTue 2020-09-29
I hear questions:
Should you respect Nazis? Should you punch a Nazi?
Questions like this get us in trouble. "Who cares? — wrong question" is my answer.
Communicating the Trump Taxes — with votes in mind
Mon 2020-09-28
Progressives: In the New York Times report on Trump's taxes: what in it would disturb a possible Trump voter (not necessarily a core Trump voter) the most?
Racehorses, Racism, and Being Trolled by Trump
adminMon 2020-09-21
All Lives Matter: It's a Trap!
adminWed 2020-06-17
Journey Together
Stephen CataldoSun 2020-06-14
Is it helpful to call someone "complicit"?
Will aggressive statements backfire or help?
Activists argue about how hard-hitting to be: Is reform not enough? Will stronger statements backfire? Do weaker statements betray the cause? If this were a sign for a cause you had not been convinced about, would it reach you?
A moment's attention to language: You do not "disperse" looters.
adminThu 2020-06-04
Much of America is upset at the looting that has happened in the wake of George Floyd's murder by four police officers. Police have been using chemical agents of some sort — I keep hearing denials that these are tear gas, so apparently some other chemical, to disperse the looters.
You don't disperse looters, do you? Looters disperse themselves. Looters steal things and run away, right? Firing canisters of noxious gas at someone running away with a tv won't stop them running away. Police are supposed to be arresting people who break into stores.