Trying to persuade someone to share your view (which you of course know is right) is a challenging experience that most of us spend our lives perfecting whether we realise it or not. When is it time to agree to disagree?
I was a quiet, shy type growing up. I make up for this now and do enjoy discussing ‘hot topics’, like Climate Change and Social Justice, any where, any time.
I do also find it interesting, coming from a sales & marketing background, the amount of time and energy spent trying to convince someone to buy something they obviously don’t need or want.
After all, when would an Eskimo ever need more ice? That’s right, the ice caps are melting!
When analysing a situation and its possible support or buying potential, a group can be divided into 3 main sections:
- Those who care or agree
- Those who are disengaged & haven’t formed an opinion, and;
- Those who oppose, who are against the argument and can only see that perspective
Is it not worthwhile to focus our energy on those who agree and who have not formed an opinion? Create a movement, empower the first to parts of the group and only after this has happened, focus on those who oppose?
Let’s take the issue of Climate Change as an example:
In less than 2 months the most powerful people in the world will meet to agree on the details of the Copenhagen Treaty for global action on Climate Change.
It is clear that most people I discuss this with now agree that growing from 1 Billion to 6 billion people in just over 100 years is putting a major strain on the earth’s fragile ecosystem and, that this growth has been achieved through our use of oil and fossil fuels, which is causing irreversible damage to our atmosphere - unless we do something, now.
This is where the ‘discussion’ heats up. The belief from some is that the government is more interested in filling their own pockets and increasing their control of people as opposed to focusing on a solution. Data from scientists explaining that climate change is a myth continues to appear and it is believed by these few that none of the vast amounts of research and data we have seen over the years is false or non existent.
After spending many hours trying to prove my point I realise it is time to agree to disagree or, as Dale Carnegie said in How To Win Friends and Influence People ‘When respect is shown for another’s opinion, more headway is made because no one’s pride is hurt”.
As for the Copenhagen Climate Change Global Treaty, I do believe that something on a global scale needs to be agreed upon to start any change. This should than include a change in our own behaviour and, the beginning of community collaboration on issues of sustainability and smart use of our planet’s resources.
What do you think? Will our governments stuff it up or is this the only way we can halt our slide into an creating an uninhabitable environment?
A new study out today has shown the Global Cooling study to be false:http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/10/27/global-cooling-theory-shown-false-in-new-study/
