How to talk to a conservative, 1

[crispini]

Okay, I am reading the new George Lakoff book and will try to post one short snippet each day to try and get the good word out, because I think it's that important. If you are interested in how to change your dialog with your friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc, GET THIS BOOK and read it.

Snip of the day:

"Conservatives have parodied liberals as weak, angry (hence not in control of their emotions), weak-minded, softhearted, unpatriotic, uninformed, and elitist. Don't give them any opportunites to stereotype you in any of these ways. Expect these stereotypes, and deal with them when they come up." (114)

More at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/2004/items/elephant

[AuntPatsy]

1. Actualy, that catagorizes the new Republicans fairly accurately...

[Democrat 4 Ever]

2. And talk ver-r-r-r-r-ry slowly and do not use any words with more

than two syllables.

[Heath.Hunnicutt]

3. The Lakoff book (Moral Politics) is about how we and they think

The way to talk to them is habit four of the seven habits of highly effective people. You have to ask them questions and draw them out on their feelings.

Armed with Lakoff, who is nothing but a complete genius, you can understand them more easily.

The critical thing is to question them until you expose their emotions to them for inspection and correction.

[Heath.Hunnicutt]

4. Oh! Didn't know he had a new book on politics. Buying it now.

Lakoff has great insight. I can't wait to read this.

[AuntPatsy]

5. It honestly dosen't matter when you expose their emotions...

I've done the same many times, all they do is go back and lick their wounds and come back the next day screeching the controlled monologues that the media faithfully replays to their needy comrades of the new world order in play...

I live with one? They are like night of the living dead since Bush took office, blank stares and all, it's rather frightening, it's tough sometimes having to face such creatures and actually have to share a bed...

[crispini]

8. Actually, "Moral Politics" is good

but I was talking about "Don't Think of an Elephant." It's a bit shorter and it cuts to the chase without the buttressing of the academic arguments he uses in "Moral Politics"

[incapsulated]

11. Moral Politics

It was a bit repetitive at times, that was my only problem with it, otherwise a great book.

[Heath.Hunnicutt]

13. I started reading Lakoff with Where Mathematics Comes From

I never understood complex analysis, which I did get a couple of B's in before, until I read his book. It changed my math life. So, then I went to Metaphors We Live By in time for Moral Politics.

I agree that in Moral Politics, his writing seemed repetitive. I suspect he was trying to get it across to people who aren't usually studying linguistics and communication.

I am coming out of the closet with my Lakoff fetish. The book "More Than Cool Reason" is easier for me to flip through, but I like poetry more now because of it. Lakoff changed my mind, you know?

I bought about 10 books by him and Johnson and the score is about 5 down, 4 or 5 to go. Now I have to buy and read this one, with just 28 days left.

The other day, a coworker and I talked a person out of * and onto Kerry. Key points: heritage issue with Russia and Putin, emotions about defense of the nation and how spread thin we are, and bouncing the 'debate' off each other. Our coworker didn't have to defend points because my pro-Kerry coworker and I were able to 'disagree' sometimes so that we could bring out our own points. Later we compared notes on how it went this time. It's getting polished.

Also, a key thought is this: Why was Iraq our priority at that time? Everyone including Kerry and Edwards agree that the Iraqi people are better off now. But the disagreement comes over how priorities -- priorities with respect to the defense of the United States -- were set in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaida main leaders. Kerry thought the priority was finding bin Laden, and now it is clear how little the war against Saddam Hussein had to do with that.

[incapsulated]

14. I haven't read the mathmatics book yet

But I will. (there are just too many books I want to read!) I've started Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things.

[incapsulated]

6. I highly recommend this excellent book!

I love Lakoff. Read this great interview with him here:

Framing the issues: UC Berkeley professor George Lakoff tells how conservatives use language to dominate politics

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

7. Everybody wish crispini a Happy Birthday today!!

:party:

[incapsulated]

9. Happy Birthday crispini!

:party:

:hi:

[crispini]

12. awwwwwwwwwwwww!

thanks! :D :hi:

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

10. Also, like someone else said today..

Don't make it into a debate. Conservatives (well, I guess just about everyone) hates to lose.