"Just the facts, ma'am."* The phrase made famous by Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday, raised its deceptive head
last week at the Netroots Nation (liberal) and RightOn (conservative)
political bloggers annual conventions in Pittsburgh.
Toward the end of a Q&A session a woman stood up, thanked the
presenters and said, "The facts are on our side. I realize now if we just
get them out there, we will win."
In the non-partisan tradition of this blog, I won't be specific as to which of the conventions I attended. I did, however, expect the dangerous thinking exemplified above to be unique to us. I was therefore gratified to see an attendee of the other convention quoted in the newspaper professing the same misguided thinking.
Facts do not produce converts.
Facts are too susceptible to fabrication, half-truths, intentional and
accidental misrepresentation, interpretation, skepticism, disinterest,
rationalization, and denial.
Facts can
be useful in conversion, but only when used as part of a process, never as a stand
alone.
If we want converts, we need to meet them where they are. We need to deal with their concerns, their perceptions, their assumptions, and their experiences. We need to build a relationship of genuine concern and trust.
And we need to offer, in the words
of Bush 41, "that vision thing" so people find a better way.
Clarence
Darrow, one of the most prominent American defense attorneys in the late
18- and early 1900s, summed it up well: "Don't
give the jury reasons to acquit your client. Make them want to acquit him and
they will provide the reasons."
* Joe Friday
actually never said the phrase he made famous. But he came close. What he did
say was "All we need are the facts."
Comments