Cynicism

1911:

If we’re hoping to reach people face to face, without the use of computers, we need to come up with a ‘total delivery package’. If we want to connect in a more interesting and inspiring way we have to learn about how new information like ours is taken in. Firstly we’re up against cynicism. People don’t trust ‘soothsayers’. If we really want to educate one-on-one, we need receptiveness, as in permission to speak. Without that we have listeners tamely agreeing with us, but not meaning what they say. Our cause needs to bring in imaginative, creative people, and difficult-to-persuade people whose sense of free-will is strongly embedded.

If we can’t answer the big questions for the cynical listener we won’t break through their protective shield. We won’t even get the ‘big questions’ asked.  Unless we’re approachable as people. Unwilling audiences don’t exist - no one can make anyone else listen, let alone agree, if they don’t want to.