However, a lot of times when people are very passionate about their cause, they often get combative out of passion and can hurt their message.
I have created this post to offer a slightly different take on spreading your message and changing the world, one that draws from ideas used in corporate public relations, politics and other fields skilled in changing people's minds. It's a kinder method, one that makes your cause seem like the friendly, open option even for those who are skeptical.
The green area on the left represents all of the other members of your cause. They feel strongly about it too, and are instrumental in spreading your message as they are the core of your "side." However, these people aren't as solid as you might be, so remember to be nice to them. Even if they might not be quite as passionate as you, don't alienate them. Make them feel good about themselves and what they are doing to make the world a better place. Don't trash them for not being "good" enough. Do that enough times and you could lose their support.
The same sort of idea applies to the purple and green areas on the right. These are the people that strongly oppose you. The individuals in the purple oval on the right aren't going anywhere. So don't try. You aren't going to make Tea Party leaders go all in for universal healthcare. By pushing at them, you not only waste your valuable time and energy, but you make yourself an antagonist as well.
The green on the right also probably isn't worth too much of your time. At least not yet. They are pretty solidly on that side and probably aren't going to change - at least not until the rest of the world is already there. Even then, you still might not get them.
The orange in the middle is where you want to focus your valuable resources. These are the people who aren't really sure how they feel about veganism, fossil fuels, a woman's right to choose. Maybe they are less informed, maybe they've never sat down to think about it, or maybe they have thought about the issue but don't know where to begin. These people are also those who might feel strongly about part of your issue but not another part.
Be friendly. That doesn't mean you shouldn't share with them the ugly side of eating eggs, or the lies anti-choice people spread about abortion. It just means you shouldn't start with an attack or by alienating them. Be welcoming. Some examples that can be applied to virtually any good cause:
- Give out free vegan food. Don't put giant posters of slaughtered animals by your table or station. Walk up to someone who looks sad and give them a cupcake. Once they've thanked you, tell them it has no dairy or eggs in it and is still super yummy. If they ask more, share with them why you are vegan. Try and gauge which issues are going to be most important to them. Are they in gym clothes? Start with the health aspect. Are they walking a dog? Start with animal rights.
- Do you want more people to bike to work? Understand that this isn't feasible for everyone. If you see someone complaining about the drive to work, tell them how you fixed that problem by riding your bike. Be really excited about it, but not pushy. If you see someone who is thinking about getting a bike but isn't sure, help them pick one out! Think about their budget, their needs, etc. Share your knowledge and passion.
If your initial reaction is to attack, you are going to put people on the defensive before they can even listen to your point. You are also going to make them form a bad impression of your cause. Particularly if you are pushing for a cause that is often seen as antagonistic, patronizing, or pushy, you need to be incredibly cautious of this (examples include veganism, environmentalism, and atheism). People are already going to be wary, and you need to prove them wrong. A good way to overcome this, if you are a member of one of those groups, is to not start with emotionally charged arguments. Start with science, facts, numbers. This causes the person you are talking to to think before they fight. Don't let things become a battle. Let it be a discussion of ideas and action plans.
Some other tips:
- Before participating in any sort of event for your cause, become familiar with commonly asked questions and attacks. Practice well thought out, friendly responses to them. If you know that you are particularly prone to getting heated, find someone in your group who won't and stick with them. They can pick up questions that might be triggering to you or might cause you to react poorly.
- This does not mean you can't stand up for yourself. Don't start a fight but don't let anyone personally attack your or your friends. If you are with a group make sure you all know to pay attention and stand up for one another. Don't let someone sit there and get verbally beaten up for standing up for your cause.
- Don't walk up to people in crowded areas and shove information into their face. Set up a sign or an area and let interested people come to you. Make yourself look friendly and available for discussion. Have little things to give away, along with stacks of literature that approach your cause from a few different angles.
- Always have resources and literature on hand. Save a document on your computer with a list of sources for your claims and lists of resources for people who need them. Keep business card sized bits of literature and links in your wallet. If you're vegan, keep some mini recipe cards with you. If it's pro-choice that's your cause, keep a card with contact information for local women's clinics. Always be ready to help those in need and share with those interested.
- Always, always, always make sure you aren't giving off a "holier than thou" air. Condescension won't get you anywhere, and with that you won't only hurt those in the middle but you can also seriously hurt the feelings of people on your side.
- Have lots of events to support your cause. Some of them should be strictly serious - like protests or volunteer events - but others should be fun. Put an exciting spin on fundraisers and have parties and get togethers related to your cause (e.g. a vegan potluck, a hiking trip, an upcycled fashion show, a trip to a farm sanctuary). This will make your cause feel more like a community and will also get other people to show up just to have fun. While they are there, they'll learn more about the issue in a positive, relaxing setting.
- Make all of your criticism constructive, and only criticize when it will actually serve a purpose. Phrase your criticisms as suggestions or interesting ideas if possible. Never say something like "this is the WORST EVER." Say "wow, it's so cool to see people put forth this kind of an effort. Another thing you could do is ____" or "another way to do it would be____" or even "to get even better results, we could also try ____."
