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Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
9. +1. Have talking points. Be calm. Let discussants froth. Enhance cognitive dissonance.
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 09:09 AM
Aug 2012

Read the stories on DU and elsewhere where DU'ers turned right wingers around. It usually happens when the good guy is able to manoeuver them into a position where they have to admit that to believe cherished point A they have to believe point B which goes against their beliefs. That's cognitive dissonance and starts their own internal dialogue which will erode the foundations and crumble their facade that is willfully ignorant of reality.

You have to begin by being friendly. That's why all the screaming and rabid foaming at the mouth that goes on here (and on the other side) is counter-productive and unhelpful to say the least.

The Scaffolding of Rhetoric, by Winston Churchill:
http://www-adm.pdx.edu/user/frinq/pluralst/churspek.htm

How to be as persuasive as Lincoln:
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2009/02/16/203702/abraham-lincoln-figures-of-speech-shakespeare/?mobile=nc

Abraham Lincoln, Master Persuader:
http://www.prmuseum.com/burger/chet_lincoln.html

"If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart which, say what he will, is the great highroad to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause, if indeed that cause really be a just one.

"On the contrary, assume to dictate to his judgement, or to command his action, or to mark him as one to be shunned and despised, and he will retreat within himself, close all the avenues to his head and his heart; and though your cause be naked truth itself, transformed to the heaviest lance, harder than steel, and sharper than steel can be made; and though you throw it with more than Herculean force and precision, you shall no more be able to pierce him than to penetrate the shell of a tortoise with a rye straw.

"Such is man, and so must he be understood by those who would lead him, even to his best interest." -- Abraham Lincoln

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Yes and people vote for these assholes. MrSlayer Aug 2012 #1
Appeasing them or trying to reason with them only makes it worse Philosoraptor Aug 2012 #2
I agree but how? MrSlayer Aug 2012 #3
Expose them, by name and by agenda Philosoraptor Aug 2012 #4
+1. Have talking points. Be calm. Let discussants froth. Enhance cognitive dissonance. Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2012 #9
Your use of Lincoln as an example is ironic! HenryWallace Aug 2012 #18
Of course rhetoric failed then. Are you saying we should give up and go home and tune out? Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2012 #20
+1,000 freshwest Aug 2012 #21
Exposing them as ridiculous by parody and satire is a good way. Nobody wants to endorse a joke. nt Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2012 #5
Especially a sick joke like todd akin Philosoraptor Aug 2012 #6
Parody runs counter to my Lincoln examples, but is good for impersonal (internet) exchanges. Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2012 #12
True Colors dolt201 Aug 2012 #7
In a way, akin has done us all a favor Philosoraptor Aug 2012 #8
Welcome to DU. Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2012 #13
"one effective weapon in our arsenal" Hubert Flottz Aug 2012 #15
We need sound bites, talking points and repetition! We also need to keep quickly debunking Dustlawyer Aug 2012 #10
Agreed K&R nt avebury Aug 2012 #11
Just remember the 24/7 media, polling, and propaganda machines.. ananda Aug 2012 #14
succinct and well put DaveJ Aug 2012 #16
the gop deserves them, america does not spanone Aug 2012 #17
.............. Philosoraptor Aug 2012 #19
Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #22
They are kooks, but very dangerous, well-funded kooks. hifiguy Aug 2012 #23
....... Philosoraptor Aug 2012 #24
overtook =/= took over but reccing anyway. nt eppur_se_muova Aug 2012 #25
Maybe they thought GOP was really GOD. Thinkingabout Aug 2012 #26
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»They overtook the gop, no...»Reply #9