Let's take charge of the conversation -- and change it!

[vlyons]

My FB and DU pages are full of post after post after post of Trump sucks, Trump is a dick, the latest Trump outrage, the latest RWNJ conspiracy theory, the latest RWNJ stupidity and lie, etc etc etc. And all the left ever seems to do is to react to the ugliness. And I have played along in this kabuki theater as well.

But it occurred to me that we have just as much power to control the memes and conversation as the Trumpsters and other RWNJs. People are depressed and anxious about the constant stream of ugliness that pours into our lives from all the hatred and bigotry. So starting today, I plan to post at least one post on FB and DU that is informative in a positive way, uplifting, and hopefully inspiring. Who wants to join me in this endeavor?

If you're feeling down in this dumps, watch this

[ck4829]

1. Sorry. Ugliness is relative and negativity being ignored does not mean the root cause goes away

Hearing about billionaires and the well-off being even more well-off is fine and dandy, but what about the poor?

[vlyons]

2. Good point, but

surely you can manage to post at least one something daily to encourage others in the struggle for a more enlightened society?

[ck4829]

3. I think I already do though

There is nothing more enlightening than exposing corruption, lies, and double standards.

[ck4829]

5. But at the same time, I do agree with what you are saying. I wish it was true-er

If that is all it took, I would be happy.

One of my favorite people to listen to is Najeeba Syeed, she is a very positive person.

If that was 100% of how the world worked, of how the political landscape is, I would agree with you 100%.

But it's not. The fear and pain we are seeing is a consequence of the world we see being created today, so I think instead of ignoring it, we need to say it's a problem and say why it's a problem... at least put the fear and pain to good use, instead of only a tool for the authoritarian and the nationalist.

There is nothing foolish, wrong, or naive with the peacemaker... but we're dealing with people who see my party, my ideology, and even the people I call not just friends but family as evil and abominations. I can't have peace with that until those people are utterly discredited and their organizations defunded and dissolved.

[thbobby]

4. Like with universal health care people could be healthy enough

to work and rural hospitals would not have to close because they do health care the uninsured cannot afford to go to a doctor for.

Or with meaningful minimum wage laws, Walmart employees would not need snap benefits. Low-income people could boost the economy by being consumers and thus boost economic growth.

How with universal voting rights America would be rated by the world as a functioning democracy.

I could go on and on, but my point is that when making intelligent suggestions that are uplifting we are attacked by gop as they only want enrichment for themselves and their rich donor.

I am completely with you in your endeavor, but I believe Democrats have always done this and that Obama was a master at it, but was demonized by power-hungry gop despots and fake Christian demons who are in reality racist and misogynistic assholes.

Perhaps I am just too much of a cynic.

[elleng]

6. ABSOLUTELY! We must frame the debate!

[elleng]

7. YES! How to Turn a Person Into a Voter

'Our approach is specific to black Southerners. But our model can work for anyone.

This month, we got on a bus with some colleagues and made our way to a senior center in Louisville, Ga., a quaint town about 50 miles from Augusta. The trip was part of a bus tour across the South to talk to black people about building political power.

When we arrived, we led the group in a discussion, then sang freedom songs and James Brown’s “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud!” They even had a dance-off.

It was a moment of fun, but moments like that are also a key part of our strategy for getting people to vote.

All year, our group, Black Voters Matter Fund, crisscrosses the South, focusing on progressive pockets in red states to find people who have been ignored.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/opinion/voter-voting-alabama-black.html?

[vlyons]

10. Good on you!

Thanks for sharing

[LAS14]

8. I'm glad you posted this!!! I was seriously impressed when...

... I heard a week or so ago that Russia is spending tens of millions of dollars to foment not only hatred of the left, like Hillary, but to foment any kind of hatred of groups, in both directions. They posted pro and con Black Lives Matter, for instance. So, yes, we can fight back by not falling for it. I have articulated two ways for myself to avoid playing along:

1 - Don't use the word "all" unless the group you're talking about is defined by it's actions. We can say that "all the people who shout racist slurs at Trump rallies" are <whatever>, but not "all people at Trump rallies." Unlikely as it sounds, we need to leave open the possibility that an individual is not like the crowd.

2 - Argue against a person's opinions, not against the person themselves. This breaks down, of course, when the person is not uttering an opinion, but, instead an emotional rant. I haven't quite figured out the response for that yet.

This isn't exactly a direct response to your point. It's more about how to reduce the behavior you describe rather than providing an alternative. But it feels like the same impulse.

[vlyons]

11. Some suggestions for an emotional rant

People having a hissy fit have their egos all entwined with whatever they're ranting about. I frequently get that there's some deeply unacknowledged need to be recognized, to be noticed. Forgotten little people. So I simply acknowledge them. I say something like:

You sound very upset about xxxxxxx. I get that you're really concerned about xxxxxx. Thank-you for sharing.

You'd be surprised how often it ends their hissy-fit. I haven't agreed, or disagreed with them. But I have acknowledged them as human beings.

[LAS14]

9. Kicking because this is such a great suggestion!!!! nt