It takes time to really have it sink in. I wrote the thing myself, and often times I catch myself not following my own words, especially when online arguments get heated up and in the heat of the moment I want to lash out because some of the things that people will say is so absurd/vile.
It also takes a while to be able to separate the diehards who are all into the fascist stuff from people that got sucked in as a result of being disillusioned.
The one thing that I am pretty good at is not getting sucked into useless fights. But I want to get a LOT better at identifying the best way to appeal to those who would take the off ramp if it were offered.
The most important thing that I try to keep in mind is that your goal is never to attack the value that the person claims to hold or the actual person. It's about attacking the way that the cult betrays said values, and preferably with questions rather than statements.
Perfect example is all the "protecting the 'children'" stuff that they love to talk about, bring up the SBC thing with all the pastors that were abusing children:
But don't go straight for the jugular. Just casually be like "Hey, I care about children too, how do you feel about the Republican Party being involved in this thing?"
or
"Yeah, I worry about children a ton, did you hear about this thing going on where all these predators were going after kids?" When they ask huh? Then you show them the stories, it was covered all over the place.
Thank you! That is an excellent summary to keep in mind. I have chosen two groups of people that I feel I can influence and two (maybe three) issues that I can speak on with deep knowledge. Sometimes I get sidetracked by other issues, but I've found it's much more effective to focus.
I really like how you've done basically the same thing with the HOW of it all. I can't do what Gavin Newsom does. I can't be nasty. But I can focus on two or three ways to structure my memes to focus on that betrayal.
This is helpful. Thank you. I am still looking for the simple positive messages to describe the country and democracy we are trying to reclaim. Negative slogans may work but they have to be shorter and simpler than examples given. On the positive side, I keep looking for things like "we the people", or even "take back our democracy, vote!" Again, I appreciate the effort to give us constructive-thinking. We are in a mess and I am grateful for any ideas!
I can see that is for the Maga cult, directly. I was pointing out that I like to see people thinking through constructive approaches. That's enough for me, right now, though I may share with close friends.
An acquaintance ( MAGA ) told me she was rabidly pro constitution. I said “ then we have something in common . So am I . So I’m sure that what’s going on with immigrants not getting any due process is troublesome .”
Her “ no - they have no rights under the constitution.”
Me : “ the V amendments includes all people in US criminal system “
Her : “ it doesn’t . It specifically says only American citizens and legal people .”
Me : “ maybe I’m wrong . Let’s look it up . I know you like to be factual “
On and on ….. in the end she said she can’t believe anyone . And she refused to look up the V amendment with me . 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
She called herself a MAGA ( after saying she was “ slightly right of center - which is what I consider myself - so again - I said we have another thing in common ) - when I asked her then if she felt there was a delineation between being a Republican and being a MAGA - she accused me of using MAGA as a slur … I’m tired of being their punching bag.
Then maybe she’s not just a follower, but rather a diehard, even if she pretends not to be.
I probably would have taken one more step with her, push just one step further, and say something like: “I thought you said you cared about the Constitution, and that’s great because then we have something in common, but if that’s the case, how come you don’t want to read what the Constitution says? It’s literally a single sentence.”
And then I would let the chips fall where they may… if they won’t budge, then they’re a die hard, and at that point you have 2 options depending on your conflict aversion. Write them off or crush them mercilessly (rhetorically of course) to make an example out of them.
Update - I ran into her again - we both are at a school at same time - and I brought my copy of the Constitution ( just in case 😉 ) She told me she had tried to look up the constitution and couldn’t find it on line 🤦🏻♀️ ) .
So I said “ that’s ok -because you said you think the internet is all fake news , I brought my constitution with me today . And there is the fifth amendment - anyone steps foot on US soil, they have rights . So we have to agree that Trump is not following the law of the land . You will
Notice that except for voting - rights aren’t limited to Americans only . “
She said “ I can see why that would bother you “
I replied , “ Since we both are constitutionalists , I would think it would bother BOTH of us . “
BTW - that’s a great point about categorizing them correctly . Much food for thought . ( I am NOT conflict averse at all with this . Bring it on ! LOL )
Nothing - she said she had to go - but I could see the wheels turning and she wasn’t flustered like yesterday . Dare I say - she might have actually thought about it??????? 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Whichever the case, what you experienced right there, is exactly what you’re aiming for. She didn’t jump into the defense, and if it looked like the wheels started turning, that’s perfect. She won’t turn around in one go. It’s all about planting the seeds that the thing she’s believing in is false. As long as she continues to be open to conversation and you get that kind of reaction, even if it’s not agreement, you’re exactly in the path you want to be.
Wow! Excellent tips for dealing with people who have extremely different positions and outlook than one's own. Particularly for the subject here, felonpotus people and people who are most definitely not. I need these kind of words to use in the examples given, I would tend toward useless facts. Not ever being defensive is so important. Being more confident than the differing opinion person is a great point. Thank you for this detailed, point by point, handbook, SO very practical and useful! And I believe the advice here can lead to a maga mind being more open.
Check back in a day or two (or, honestly, remind me if you don't see it — feel free to drop a comment or send me a DM) and I will have a downloadable PDF as well that should come out much cleaner than printing from Substack.
I need to go over this again and again until it sinks in. I've made some rookie mistakes in making memes, and I really want to do it right!
It takes time to really have it sink in. I wrote the thing myself, and often times I catch myself not following my own words, especially when online arguments get heated up and in the heat of the moment I want to lash out because some of the things that people will say is so absurd/vile.
It also takes a while to be able to separate the diehards who are all into the fascist stuff from people that got sucked in as a result of being disillusioned.
The one thing that I am pretty good at is not getting sucked into useless fights. But I want to get a LOT better at identifying the best way to appeal to those who would take the off ramp if it were offered.
The most important thing that I try to keep in mind is that your goal is never to attack the value that the person claims to hold or the actual person. It's about attacking the way that the cult betrays said values, and preferably with questions rather than statements.
Perfect example is all the "protecting the 'children'" stuff that they love to talk about, bring up the SBC thing with all the pastors that were abusing children:
https://www.npr.org/2022/05/22/1100616952/southern-baptists-sex-abuse
But don't go straight for the jugular. Just casually be like "Hey, I care about children too, how do you feel about the Republican Party being involved in this thing?"
or
"Yeah, I worry about children a ton, did you hear about this thing going on where all these predators were going after kids?" When they ask huh? Then you show them the stories, it was covered all over the place.
Thank you! That is an excellent summary to keep in mind. I have chosen two groups of people that I feel I can influence and two (maybe three) issues that I can speak on with deep knowledge. Sometimes I get sidetracked by other issues, but I've found it's much more effective to focus.
I really like how you've done basically the same thing with the HOW of it all. I can't do what Gavin Newsom does. I can't be nasty. But I can focus on two or three ways to structure my memes to focus on that betrayal.
Really good stuff. Thank you.
DICTATORS THRIVE IN YOUR SILENCE. BE LOUD AMERICA.
Lukium you are the many. Amazing write up! Thank you. I am going to listen this over and over so I get it right.
I meant to say you are the *man*...ugh autocorrect 🙄
This is helpful. Thank you. I am still looking for the simple positive messages to describe the country and democracy we are trying to reclaim. Negative slogans may work but they have to be shorter and simpler than examples given. On the positive side, I keep looking for things like "we the people", or even "take back our democracy, vote!" Again, I appreciate the effort to give us constructive-thinking. We are in a mess and I am grateful for any ideas!
Yea, the guide is for dealing with MAGA directly. Are you looking for messaging for allies?
I can see that is for the Maga cult, directly. I was pointing out that I like to see people thinking through constructive approaches. That's enough for me, right now, though I may share with close friends.
I’ve tried this - over and over - Today :
An acquaintance ( MAGA ) told me she was rabidly pro constitution. I said “ then we have something in common . So am I . So I’m sure that what’s going on with immigrants not getting any due process is troublesome .”
Her “ no - they have no rights under the constitution.”
Me : “ the V amendments includes all people in US criminal system “
Her : “ it doesn’t . It specifically says only American citizens and legal people .”
Me : “ maybe I’m wrong . Let’s look it up . I know you like to be factual “
On and on ….. in the end she said she can’t believe anyone . And she refused to look up the V amendment with me . 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
She called herself a MAGA ( after saying she was “ slightly right of center - which is what I consider myself - so again - I said we have another thing in common ) - when I asked her then if she felt there was a delineation between being a Republican and being a MAGA - she accused me of using MAGA as a slur … I’m tired of being their punching bag.
And frankly - I’m tried of this shit .
Then maybe she’s not just a follower, but rather a diehard, even if she pretends not to be.
I probably would have taken one more step with her, push just one step further, and say something like: “I thought you said you cared about the Constitution, and that’s great because then we have something in common, but if that’s the case, how come you don’t want to read what the Constitution says? It’s literally a single sentence.”
And then I would let the chips fall where they may… if they won’t budge, then they’re a die hard, and at that point you have 2 options depending on your conflict aversion. Write them off or crush them mercilessly (rhetorically of course) to make an example out of them.
Update - I ran into her again - we both are at a school at same time - and I brought my copy of the Constitution ( just in case 😉 ) She told me she had tried to look up the constitution and couldn’t find it on line 🤦🏻♀️ ) .
So I said “ that’s ok -because you said you think the internet is all fake news , I brought my constitution with me today . And there is the fifth amendment - anyone steps foot on US soil, they have rights . So we have to agree that Trump is not following the law of the land . You will
Notice that except for voting - rights aren’t limited to Americans only . “
She said “ I can see why that would bother you “
I replied , “ Since we both are constitutionalists , I would think it would bother BOTH of us . “
Then she had to run off again 🤣😉
What did she say?
BTW - that’s a great point about categorizing them correctly . Much food for thought . ( I am NOT conflict averse at all with this . Bring it on ! LOL )
Nothing - she said she had to go - but I could see the wheels turning and she wasn’t flustered like yesterday . Dare I say - she might have actually thought about it??????? 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
One can surely hope.
Whichever the case, what you experienced right there, is exactly what you’re aiming for. She didn’t jump into the defense, and if it looked like the wheels started turning, that’s perfect. She won’t turn around in one go. It’s all about planting the seeds that the thing she’s believing in is false. As long as she continues to be open to conversation and you get that kind of reaction, even if it’s not agreement, you’re exactly in the path you want to be.
Now I have to start carrying my Bible too 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wow! Excellent tips for dealing with people who have extremely different positions and outlook than one's own. Particularly for the subject here, felonpotus people and people who are most definitely not. I need these kind of words to use in the examples given, I would tend toward useless facts. Not ever being defensive is so important. Being more confident than the differing opinion person is a great point. Thank you for this detailed, point by point, handbook, SO very practical and useful! And I believe the advice here can lead to a maga mind being more open.
This is amazing!!! I am downloading, printing this out and sending to every activist I know and work with! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Check back in a day or two (or, honestly, remind me if you don't see it — feel free to drop a comment or send me a DM) and I will have a downloadable PDF as well that should come out much cleaner than printing from Substack.
TY for this incredibly comprehensive plan. Mikey Cohen recommends 3-word slogans because they are easy to remember. (I guess 4-word works too - MAGA)