Have you ever been told you HAVE to do something by someone that lacks the authority to make you do it? It spikes the hairs on your neck, clenches your teeth and yanks your inner 'Hulk' right out of you.
Do you recall slouching on the sofa as your parents gave you yet another sermon on the virtues of a clean room? By age 7 you tuned it out because you were able to recite their script yourself. By age 8 you understood why the grown-ups on Charlie Brown specials were so incoherent. As much as we cling to it, 'death by lecture' doesn't seem to be an effective persuasion tact, let alone an impetus for change.
The occasionally clever commercial or billboard aside, these methods seem to be used most extensively by groups or individuals that have adopted a 'cause'. Brow beating and condescension evoke hostility more than they do understanding or constructive dialogue. (I have not proven this scientifically but I have a theory that the 'higher the horse', the more 'woh woh woh' we hear from the rider.) Unsolicited lectures simply breed boredom. Heck, even the facts don't matter if they aren't used properly. One can be armed with statistics and facts galore and it does little to persuade as there's always evidence and anecdotes to the contrary.
This article illustrates the inherent trouble with statistics when trying to make the case for a certain way of life. It's about a vegan that argues that the impact of his Hummer SUV on the environment is offset by the fact that he is a vegan. He argues that one does not truly care about the environment unless they are vegan. His reasoning is that the carbon emissions of the livestock industries far outweigh that of his Hummer and other gas guzzling transportation. (While conveniently ignoring the drain on natural resources caused by his 4wheeled midlife crisis) You can read the article yourself and see that the author has gone to great lengths to find evidence and statistics that both support and debunk the claims of this polluting herbivore quite fairly. But if you take into account that 90% of all statistics are just made up anyway (think about that one), it is increasingly difficult to discover the truth. Not to mention I am still left pondering what would happen if we cut out the livestock industries. Where would all those cows go?
As much as some may not want to admit it, the first question that comes to many people's minds when posed with new information and a subsequent call to action is, 'How does this effect me?' I'm sure there are plenty of furrowed brows and 'not me' retorts out there but there is nothing to be ashamed of. It's basic survival instincts. 'How does this apply to me, should I be concerned and if so, how concerned?' The trick is to tap into this instinct and show people what's in it for them and not their great-great-great-grandchildren, not the South African Swallow and not a generalization such as 'mankind'.
If you have 10minutes watch this video below about Rocco the Cowboy whose life was saved by Dr. Oz and his crazy vegan voodoo. I know, I know… Dr. what?? I asked myself the same thing. He's apparently one of those Oprah endorsed phenomenons that has his own TV show now. (And if you can't trust Oprah who can you trust? Just look at Dr. Phil…)
Rocco was shown how his poor eating habits were killing him. He was challenged to temporarily try eating a vegan diet. Not because it would help the environment, not because it saves the dairy cows. He was asked to do this as a way to eliminate saturated fats and unhealthy, processed foods from his diet to show him how what he puts into body is killing him. What's in it for him? His life.
Now this is a way to send a message. Simple cause and effect. No theories, no studies, no ambiguity, no contradictions, no slogans, no lectures. Anyone can tell you to do something, or tell you why you should try. But perhaps it would be most effective to quit trying to prove oneself right, and start daring others to prove you wrong.
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