I am by no means the perfect role model for communicating. I would give myself a grade of about 7-8 on a 10 scale. I give myself about a 6 of 10 on the listening part.
As animals we developed language to communicate more complex ideas that come with having larger brains and self-awareness (well, most of us). We also need language to resolve conflict and collaborate. But because of our strong emotions, desires for conquest, fighting off predators, protecting our family, and just being a part of the ecology and of society, and building financial security, our communication has evolved in ways to suit those purposes.
But as modern civil society continues to evolve, and due to the need to create profits and prosperity for our businesses and families we must evolve better ways of communicating. Corporations are already training employees in customer service operations to say certain phrases in certain ways with a certain tenor to elicit a positive reaction from their customers and vendors, even IF the customer walks in unhappy.
We also see the new types of political ads that are less "hard hitting" because it tends to alienate some people. The science of effective and positive-based communication is here. And whether you like it or not, you are involved if you live in a modern country. These techniques are not only going to revolutionize the way businesses communicate with customers and vendors, but within businesses as well. The bottom line is these techniques are very successful. Anyone not embracing this change is at a competitive disadvantage, whether in business, home, politics or elsewhere.
And, because we learn to use these at work, we are learning to use them at home as well. And, we will need to use them in our public locations as well, which not only includes in-person, but also online. The sooner we learn to use these techniques, we will be in a position to better represent gun rights in the public space. This is not, as some might think, "enabling" weakness. This is developing a strength...a very powerful strength and a powerful tool to affect change in the public arena, at work, in our families, and everywhere that we communicate. These tools also allow us to better defuse confrontations, hold people accountable, deal with difficult people, and have all parties walking away feeling good. After all, if we can have a confrontation in a respectful manner, where every party feels respected and the outcome is what all parties are willing to support, then isn't that the best we can hope for? Of course sometimes that takes many meetings or confrontations, but if we get to the point where we get the results we want AND avoid a damaging confrontation, then that benefits everyone.
Take a look at a series of books called Crucial conversations, Crucial Confrontations, Crucial Accountability. These books teach these techniques. There are plenty of other books around teaching effective customer service.
When we can be effective and responsible public speakers for gun rights, I think over time we can win the fight against unreasonable gun controls. After all, we have a solid moral and Constitutional foundation to build upon. We have a right to defend ourselves and our families. And, guns are a valuable part of building strength within our society. Gun ownership is a valuable part of our American heritage. We have a great story to tell about the benefits of firearms in America. We have not been able to tell that story effectively because we shoot ourselves in our own feet through a lot of mistakes in the public domain which gun controllers use against us.
I have some other thoughts on this subject but I am going to leave it here for now. This is one of the best online forums I have ever been a member of. For the most part we are respectful, civil and helpful. This seems like a good place to start this kind of discussion.
I encourage discussion, but let's try and keep it on the subject and not make this personal.
Cody
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Originally Posted by 41magfan
