Posted by Dinah on April 16, 2005, at 18:49:03
I thought it would be best to start another thread for this.
I suppose that it comes down to "effective at what?" I guess I have a different idea of effectiveness than getting attention and getting people to talk about something. Perhaps it's the blindness of an only child. I never went through thinking that any attention at all was better than no attention. My efforts at effectiveness always went to changing hearts and minds.
It brings to mind a conversation I had long ago with my therapist about whether he was catering to me in changing his style of relating to me. His take on it was that it was no good to talk to people in a way that made it difficult for them to hear and really listen to what was being said. So that it was more effective, and way more rewarding, for him to modify his style of presenting a subject so that I would truly take in what he was saying without defensiveness. So he considers effectiveness having his listener nod a bit, I suppose, in a symbolic way. Even if they don't end up agreeing.
It also brings to mind ecology. The people who spike trees, for example, as opposed to the people who brought the plight of the dolphins to the public's attention through a mention in Lethal Weapon whatever, and other media sources. They did it without undue rancor, which caused reception without undue defensiveness, and a nearly instantaneous adoption of dolphin free tuna cans. While the people who spike trees got themselves attention, I suppose. But possibly didn't change many hearts or minds in the direction they intended.
And it brings to mind that actress who accepted the Oscar for Marlon Brando. It got attention for the cause, I guess. But I can't remember the cause now. The message was lost in the way the message was delivered. I remember the messenger, but I don't recall the message. That's what happens with truly memorable messengers, I think. And I wonder at how truly effective it was.
And Dr. Bob, if you don't think this is administrative, feel free to redirect. I think it has administrative overtones, but is not overtly administrative, I confess.
poster:Dinah
thread:485227
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050323/msgs/485227.html