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.
A sneeze is a sneeze: conservative disgust sensitivity not at odds with Coronavirus
adminThu 2020-05-21
Let less people die to get the shutdowns over faster?
adminWed 2020-04-15
People are saying it's life vs the economy. That we should let coronavirus keep spreading and sacrifice some our grandparents so that young people can work. Yes. people being unable to work is a disaster in the US. People are living paycheck to paycheck and unlike Europe the government is not coming to the rescue. People are locked up with their abusers. Depression and suicide will increase. Everyone knows, everyone agrees.
But here’s the real question:
Are you willing to let less people die to get the shutdowns over faster?
Rapid Response on COVID-19
adminFri 2020-04-03
Do you have parents whose favorite media is trying to get them killed, and you still care? Or do you want to create consequences for people who endanger lives, and see them lose the next election? This page is intended as an evolving resource guide for both health information and political information intended to cross the partisan divide.
What is your metaphor?
Right now I'm using:
a classroom, with the kids in the back blaming each other.