Primary links
- About Us
- Our Work
- Our Initiatives
- Issue Areas
- Tools & Resources
- Opportunity In Action
- Blog
- Donate Now
Submitted by Julie Rowe on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 2:33pm
As mounting evidence shows, the practice of busting myths - lining up facts to disprove an opponent's false assertions - just doesn't work. Most recently, Sharon Begley takes on the practice in Newsweek, exploring why people believe nutty stories about health care reform or supposed controversies about the president's birth certificate. She reports that, basically, people want to believe what they want to believe and they predisposed to ignoring any facts that clash with those beliefs. In fact, she finds that we actually go out of our way to find facts that bolster our beliefs. And most people are not too picky about the source of those facts, which makes the internet an ideal tool for them.
However, it's true that the audiences we want to reach are not usually completely opposed to our arguments and comitted to disagreeing with us regardless of the facts. Usually, we need to sway the middle, the people who haven't necessarily made up their minds. Why not line up statistics showing how wrong opposing arguments are for them? There are a few reasons. First, even with these groups, facts are not going to be the swaying element of your argument. If they are leaning toward believing that immigration is generally bad for the country, numbers showing how much immigrants contribute to the economy are not going sway them alone. It's important, instead, to frame arguments with the basic values that we know our audiences share. In the case of immigration, fairness is important. Numbers can then support how, because immigrants pay into a health care system, for instance, it's only fair that they receive the benefits from it.
But with these middle audiences, there is another danger in relying on myth busting, and that's repeating your opponent's argument. If a series of myth busts say "immigrants do NOT commit more crimes than citizens" or "health care reform does NOT want to kill your grandmother", you have put those arguments back into print once again, with only a measely "not" separating them from your opponents. Worse, some myth busting sheets repeat the arguments word for word and the refute them. Research shows that this mainly leaves the bad argument lingering in people's minds, not the counter. As Shankar Vedantam reports in the Washington Post:
Experiments by Ruth Mayo, a cognitive social psychologist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, also found that for a substantial chunk of people, the "negation tag" of a denial falls off with time. Mayo's findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology in 2004.
"If someone says, 'I did not harass her,' I associate the idea of harassment with this person," said Mayo, explaining why people who are accused of something but are later proved innocent find their reputations remain tarnished. "Even if he is innocent, this is what is activated when I hear this person's name again.
"If you think 9/11 and Iraq, this is your association, this is what comes in your mind," she added. "Even if you say it is not true, you will eventually have this connection with Saddam Hussein and 9/11."
So what should messengers be doing? Vedantam continues:
Mayo found that rather than deny a false claim, it is better to make a completely new assertion that makes no reference to the original myth. Rather than say, as Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) recently did during a marathon congressional debate, that "Saddam Hussein did not attack the United States; Osama bin Laden did," Mayo said it would be better to say something like, "Osama bin Laden was the only person responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks" -- and not mention Hussein at all.
I do realize that making the case for abolishing this practice is much like myth busting itself: facts and evidence don't necessarily work. If you believe this practice to be effective, it's going to be difficult to talk you out of it. So, in following the above advice, here's what we suggest you do instead:
- Talk about values. Introduce the big value themes that are important to audiences early in your arguments to find common ground.
- Make positive assertions. Say what's true instead of arguing about what's not.
- Use facts to bolster values-based arguments. Facts and statistics are still important, but need to be framed in a way that 1) makes audiences care and 2) underscores why they should believe what you've already made them feel good about believing.
Printer-friendly version
Comments
Nike Air Max are quite
are quite famous amid men and women whatsoever ages. The design and top quality meet most people's taste. Nike Air Max Shoes a collection of footwear launched by Nike Inc. in 1987 earliest time. because then Air Max Shoes has become regularly introducing new along with updated versions in it. Just as most of us know, this Air Max could be the Nike oxygen Air Max TN that double the 20th anniversary within the delivery of the traditional style,wholesale air max organic for this development with the area of operating footwear and have created exceptional contributions towards ashes of course to hold out some thing to celebrate their praiseworthy Cheap Air Max, which can be none other than the top way with a quantity of far more a color.Just since athletes are popularizing the Air Max 90 of putting on Nike shoes, the firm has created fantastic strides in providing the typical customer a superb purpose for getting their shoes: the Nike feeling of style is perceived as to become rather trendy. a quantity of Air Max 360 distinct lines exist for distinct occasions, that include the dark Nike oxygen max 2003 shoe which can be intended for formal occasions. Clearly, buyers are just as delighted as athletes.Nike Air Max Ltd continually provides out the nicest colour methods on their oxygen Air Max 2011's collection up and right here is a single far more to include to that collection. a single of my preferred oxygen Air Max 180 footwear attribute a awesome grey bottom colour having a light Nike Air Max 95 swoosh and hyper blue accents along the single within the sneaker and heel. Also on this pair they kept their mesh toe box style for additional
Cheap Nike Air MaxYou may appear Vibram Five
You may appear Vibram Five Fingers foolish whilst saying that putting on footwear raises the danger of injury and numerous pains but it's truly genuine in accordance with most recent medical studies Vibram FiveFingers. These costly athletic footwear that state to supply one of the best help for your foot is truly growing leg injuries, muscle strains and worry fractures whereas operating barefoot strengthens your stabilising muscle tissue and minimizes odds of sprained ankles along with other Five Fingers 2011 injuries. We should be considering when the current natural environment is appropriate for walking or operating barefoot with all of the dirt and dangerous elements around the roads Five Fingers Shoes but an choice has become derived by 1 company, Vibram in type of footwear known as Vibram 5 fingers each and every of your toes into its Cheap Vibram Five Fingers personal compartment which permit your ft to adapt to its organic posture around the surface.Apart from your sensation of walking barefoot, you can really feel the lone security which permits you to definitely really feel every little thing under your Discount Vibram Five Fingers whilst guarding your foot from ingredients like glass, dirt along with other issues that you just definitely don't wish to your ft to action on. A typical perception is the simple fact that a shoe absorbs shock and will cushion the blow of the tough surface area but people today are unaware that our entire body is equipped with one of the best shock absorbers; the only issue needed would be to give a possibility Vibram FiveFingers Speed to shock absorbers of your entire body to display up their performance.Vibram 5 fingers and Nike totally free collection of footwear would be the fundamental equipments for barefoot runners that permits the runner additional independence within their pace not merely inside beach front or in locations using a gentle composite observe but additionally on asphalt and concrete street races. No doubt barefoot operating tries its very best to shield Vibram FiveFingers Sprint from injuries however it is advisable for people today with earlier foot surgery, clubfoot, injury to tendons or diabetic people today that end result inside of a numbness within the ft ought to be very cautious whilst attempting Vibram FiveFingers KSO running.
The Navina three will be
The Navina three will be
Asics Running Shoesthe most favorite design out best
Asics Running Shoes Salesuited now. The shoe is in fact a
Asics Shoes
lower profile operating
Asics Tiger
that is created particularly for women. This Cheap Asics Running Shoes stands out from all of the other people because of its comfort, which arrives courtesy within the revolutionary 5-colum Nike Shox technique during the rear. This technique permits the shoe to possess excellent response and cushioning, which translates into a great ride. this can be certainly an A+ shoe.The dark Nike Shox NZ is regarded by lots of to get probably the most favorite Cheap Asics Shoes actually created. This Asics shoe is stylish, comfortable, provides higher overall performance and tends to make your foot start looking very Asics Shoes Sale good. This write-up will supply a short rundown of the shoe and what folks have to anticipate from it.The Asics Gel Kinsei II All dark Nike Shox NZ can be an incredible shoe also it has topped lots of Asics Gel Lyte III lovers record because of its Asics Gel Stratus 2.1 design and style as nicely as the overall performance it gives. beneath is in fact a fast overview within the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 what this shoe must offer.
In the finish in the occasion you are searching for any Asics Whizzer Lo awesome shoe, then you definitely have to certainly think about the dark Nike Shox NZ. This shoe is created for your Asics Suroingu Japan Ar person who desires to start looking fashionable when running, although at the identical time obtaining the assistance which they need. This Womens Onitsuka Tiger Mini Cooper shoe is regarded to get among the most favorite readily available also it will be a crime in the occasion you do not personal at the very least 1 pair inside your lifetime. Go forward purchase one, you will not be Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81 disappointed.
To date, identify Beryl and
To date, identify Beryl and
Air Jordan Shoesher daughter's work with Evans case didn't make any questions on Iran, the case has been as an official archive solves the case. Corpus Christi lawyers concluded that he was the only possible defense is the defendant is mentally ill, and they think the seven murder seems to be crazy with more instructions than six accused was seriously ill.
Jordan ShoesChristie's mental health to be fully able to understand this view, he explained to the prison priest said: the more the better so confused and shocked.Christie crime more facts on the record, does not seem to be possible in the upcoming trial to the effect that his judgment,
Air Jordanand special interest of the public to explore and Christie did not matter.
Cheap Air JordanIf Christie really killed Beryl, not with Evans killed in Iraq, with Evans is highly unlikely in Iraq has killed his daughter (Christie did not recognize kills the child, the reservation is understandable: he does not have any interest to destroy the still far less than the little girl of marriageable age).
Discount Air JordanWe know that, when the coffin lid open when we are looking for may prove evidence of an innocent man hanged.Words of psychiatrist Huo Bosen, Christie was a pathological liar. He pretended to be a strict morals, he forged with a statement of each offence contains reasons. He made an excuse to kill his wife out of her suffering.
Air Jordan 22In two other cases he says his victim first beating and finally he said Beryl had asked him to help her commit suicide. Christie's last four victims were strangled with rope. He said he was killed in the same way the two bones of the victims at that time. Three of the bodies of the four cases of Campos check cases (other than Mrs Christie) can clearly see the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, and confirmed by light microscopy.
Air Jordan 22 XXIIFrom these three examples of vaginal swabs are also proved to have had sexual intercourse before and after death-sexual intercourse-but people are not sure whether the death occurred before, during or after the death of
Air Jordan Saledeath.
Air Jordan Spizikes
Air Jordan 11 XI
Air Jordan 9 IX
Air Jordan 8 VIII
Air Jordan 7
Air Jordan 6 VI
Air Jordan 6 Rings
Air Jordan 4 IV
Air Jordan 1 I
Christie admitted Cheap
Christie admitted Cheap Jordan Shoes,Disocunt Jordan Shoes,Disocunt Air Jordan,Air Jordan Sale,Jordan Shoes,Retro Jordan Shoes
Cheap Jordan Shoesmurdering Beryl – for the first time in Brixton prison on his lawyers admit it-the process is the same type: first gas made her lose consciousness, followed her with rope and then sexual intercourse.
Jordan ShoesWhen he asked when Mr Huo Bosen repeat this statement, Christie said he was not sure she still is the first sexual intercourse. His lawyer pedicled with kelifudun give me a real copy of the original autopsy report, and I consider the medical evidence to support his statements.
Retro Jordan ShoesThe strongest evidence is Beryl (same with her daughter) was strangled with a rope, which is the Corpus Christi fixed means. Closed pinching of the dead and most of the murderer is. Pedicled with other SAR reports prove Beryl was dead had been beaten before: an eye blackened, description lip bruise on her face was boxing. And more serious in her thigh and leg contusion. These injuries and Christie murders are different. Thiard also noted in the Anterior vaginal wall are two injuries-a is the old scars and next to it there is a small area of contusion, pedicle Yar contusion at the local court, said that may be caused by attempts to violent sexual intercourse or when fighting. He also says that this is most likely due to a syringe and self-inflicted, Beryl seems to want to try out the abortion (she was four months pregnant).
Disocunt Jordan ShoesIn addition to not wearing underwear, her body through a full range of clothing. But pedicle Yar not vaginal swab laboratory. If what he did, he would almost certainly be found Christie's sperm. Lu multi-dimensional g · Kennedy in his very popular book of the 10th residence Lillington, wrote in; and I suspect it all on Dr Meirion Evans-write thousands of words in the Corpus Christi case stories are also to be found in more careless than this exaggeration.
Disocunt Air JordanThiard reports the most enlightening is certain he did not say.
Air Jordan SaleIf Christie was using the coal gas poisoning Beryl, then her skin and tissues should be lit cherry red ① (① when carbon monoxide poisoning, the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, blood is cherry red, skin and tissue is cherry red. --The translator). This feature significant signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, unlikely to be as careful as pedicle Yar and apparent murder cases ignored by experienced pathologists. Campos very clearly on the other three bodies, which at the time of check of two cases had died almost two months.
Air Jordan Retro 22Beryl's body to save almost degrees, when the pedicled Yar for autopsy, was not enough for a month. And has a complete spirit of pedicle Yar is also for the General laboratory examination of the carbon monoxide, but found nothing.
Post new comment