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George Floyd's death: how to voice one's own opinions?

#1 · June 1, 2020, 6:42 am

Quote from WarriorInGarden on June 1, 2020, 6:42 am
Hello Lucio,
I'm currently a fan of your content so far, you give thoughtful insights when responding to people and I appreciate that.
As you may or may not know, the video of George Floyd's murder/death when interacting with the Minnesota police has caused an immense reaction by many people in the US. This video (+ the protests/riots) probably has sparked the most controversy and reaction by the people in my social circles and social media (compared to any other event/circumstance).
I have spent almost the last two days looking at as many opinions as I can about the issue and I've determined that it's very complex. I have formed my current opinion on the issue while taking many different sides/opinions/worries into consideration.
I know the power of social media (even if I only have an "average" amount of followers/friends) and I believe I could perhaps showcase a different viewpoint in order for people to reflect and challenge any opinions they might have.
Hopefully based on these posts/video, it can cause a chain reaction and best case scenario more people can takes action to make progress into the issue at hand in the most effective way possible.
However, this can be challenging because even if I construct a post or video that articulates an idea I want, other people might perceive it in completely different ways (this can possibly be true if it challenges any strong beliefs they might have).
Also, I might have read somewhere here that taking a side in a controversial topic can create some enemies and you want to minimize that as much as you can (of course I could make stronger bonds and "allies" with people but would it even be effective/worth it?).
I want to know your opinion, should I just wait to interact with people in person just so that there is no confusion in my messaging and just stay off posting anything on social media?
I only say this because I think this event is unique and important.
Not only that, there's this quote that's been used a lot and I found it quite interesting to take into account as well ->
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. - Desmond Tutu".
Also, the movement is continuing to gain momentum (the movement will immensely take off if the officer is not found guilty, so maybe I should wait a while before publicly stating something? If I even should?). I prefer not to lose any potential for power and good in the long-term. I want to see your take on this, thanks!

Hello Lucio,

I'm currently a fan of your content so far, you give thoughtful insights when responding to people and I appreciate that.

As you may or may not know, the video of George Floyd's murder/death when interacting with the Minnesota police has caused an immense reaction by many people in the US. This video (+ the protests/riots) probably has sparked the most controversy and reaction by the people in my social circles and social media (compared to any other event/circumstance).

I have spent almost the last two days looking at as many opinions as I can about the issue and I've determined that it's very complex. I have formed my current opinion on the issue while taking many different sides/opinions/worries into consideration.

I know the power of social media (even if I only have an "average" amount of followers/friends) and I believe I could perhaps showcase a different viewpoint in order for people to reflect and challenge any opinions they might have.
Hopefully based on these posts/video, it can cause a chain reaction and best case scenario more people can takes action to make progress into the issue at hand in the most effective way possible.

However, this can be challenging because even if I construct a post or video that articulates an idea I want, other people might perceive it in completely different ways (this can possibly be true if it challenges any strong beliefs they might have).

Also, I might have read somewhere here that taking a side in a controversial topic can create some enemies and you want to minimize that as much as you can (of course I could make stronger bonds and "allies" with people but would it even be effective/worth it?).
I want to know your opinion, should I just wait to interact with people in person just so that there is no confusion in my messaging and just stay off posting anything on social media?

I only say this because I think this event is unique and important.
Not only that, there's this quote that's been used a lot and I found it quite interesting to take into account as well ->

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. - Desmond Tutu".

Also, the movement is continuing to gain momentum (the movement will immensely take off if the officer is not found guilty, so maybe I should wait a while before publicly stating something? If I even should?). I prefer not to lose any potential for power and good in the long-term. I want to see your take on this, thanks!

#2 · June 1, 2020, 9:12 am

To be clear: your goal would be to share your opinion in a way that will influence the public discourse?

And what would your opinion be, in this case?

The type of message and timing is crucial to how people will perceive you, and how widely it will circulate.

During times of upheavals, when emotions are high, flames raging and bullets are firing, there happen a polarization and extremization of positions. It's either with us with the other side. The opinions that get the most shares and likes also tend to be more extreme.
And the leaders that are most likely to rise to prominence also tend to be extremists.

More conciliatory tones and more neutral commenting tend to be lost in the noise. And if you deliver them to the most fervent ones, to be attacked as too "soft".

For example, imagine one were to say this:

The video was painful to watch.
Chocking someone who's begging for air is barbaric and unworthy of a civilized human being. The officer in the video acted like a psychopath with no conscience and empathy, and people like that cannot hold any position of power or authority over others and need to be kept away from society.
The police needs to do a much better job at vetting the people they accept in their ranks.
RIP Floyd.
On the other hand the protests are morphing into riot and looting.
Among peaceful protesters are hiding a sizable number thugs and extremists who are destroying people's livelihoods and property, and only causing further pain to innocent people who haven't done anything wrong.
Those people need to be identified and stopped.

Balanced, but not newsworthy.

The protesters are more likely to focus on the second part of the message, and tune you out or attack you on the basis that outrage is fair.

While the more conservative ones who are closer to the police are likely to be put off by the strength of the first part of the message, and likely to answer that most policemen are good.

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#3 · June 1, 2020, 4:05 pm

Thanks for your thoughts! I believe my goal would essentially to have my different social circles get familiar with other perspectives of the issues and hopefully they can spread an effective way of creating progress. Of course, I would have to have faith that they would critically think about what I post and reflect, which in these times I don't know if that is 100% possible.

My message would have been to understand the why behind the protest(previous attempts of protests, speeches, events), the reason why it's escalating into violent protest (ignoring of peaceful ones and no progress of fixing issue), why small business destroyed suffer (they shouldn't be and it's unfortunate but still understand the anger), police behaving badly during protest while others are doing a phenomenal job (series of videos indicating both), how condemning all police could be troublesome (but still understand anger), how hate/division is nurtured(video), how accountability for police is necessary (how it can help good cops at the same time by improving the trust between police and citizens) and how to most effectively create change (voting).

However, I can see how I would have to take a less-extreme stand and people might focus on parts of my message while ignoring others. That is why I believe a video (less than 1-2 minutes long) hitting all the points could be effective if created properly.

Even then, the message could still be perceived differently and not even be so effective.

#4 · June 1, 2020, 5:26 pm

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on June 1, 2020, 5:26 pm
OK, now it might be a bit clearer.
So your message would be tailored to a white/conservative crowd?
A crowd that right now is more on the side of the police, and condemning the protests?
Well, look, from a large perspective, then I'd tell you to absolutely go for it.
Yes, on this specific case you might risk alienating someone, and your message might even fall flat. And, on net balance, your message might do you more harm than good within your social circle.
But you are thinking like a good leader right now, and that's great.
You have taken stock of the situation, didn't jump right in swept up by emotions, and you want to strike a conciliatory tone.
That's exactly what's needed the most in these situations.
The risk that comes with it is part of the leadership burden.
Sometimes in life you need to put yourself on the line to do what you think is right.
If things don't go as well as you hoped, you will still know that you've done the right thing, and that's what matters.
Plus, it's also an opportunity to learn and grow.
Today, you are sharing your message with your social circle.
Tomorrow, who knows, you might be speaking to a larger circle. Or run for office.
So start planning that message, and send it out (and feel free to share it here for some feedback).
A few pointers:
Never make your audience feel bad for the position they are espousing
Avoid sounding like you're superior to them, and lecturing them
Avoid making your video sound like finger-pointing
Instead, make the anger feel justified
Frame it as "yes, some of those people are thugs. some of them are exaggerating. And they need to be singled out"
Then make your pivot slow. Frame it as a win for all. Something like:
"what America and humanity needs the most right now, are bridges. We don't need any more flames. We have had enough flames. We don't any more fights. We have had enough flaes.
That's what the extremists want. We need to be bigger than extremists.
We need to show that a better way forward is possible.
Some people, high on emotions and anger, want an enemy to yell at.
It would be cool if we didn't any enemy, but you might better off providing one. Make that enemy the extremists who are burning and looting.
That way, it's easier than to pivot to the non-extremist protesters.
In crisis time, people are also looking for charismatic leaders to follow.
Make your message sound like a higher calling. The higher calling is to be superior to factions, to take the side of what's good for humanity.
The question is: will they be brave and strong enough to build bridges, now that we need bridges the most?
Because the world needs them to be those types of brave men.
At this point, I would show some images of Floyd's death to awaken the empathy of the watchers.
The video is heartbreaking. Everyone who's not a psychopath will sympathize with a man's suffering. That will make it easier to turn them to a more conciliatory tone.
Finally, make your calling feel like a step they can take for a better world.
Make it feel like the world needs them right now to do what's difficult to do: to forget the divisions and hurt, and to build bridges, for a better tomorrow.
We might have hurt each other in the past. But now we can stand united for a better world
Will they be strong enough to move past hate, and join love?
That might be a touching last message to give a final nudge in the right direction.
Hit these points, and you will have a far higher chance of having a real impact.
Go for it man, I'm cheering for you.

OK, now it might be a bit clearer.

So your message would be tailored to a white/conservative crowd?
A crowd that right now is more on the side of the police, and condemning the protests?

Well, look, from a large perspective, then I'd tell you to absolutely go for it.
Yes, on this specific case you might risk alienating someone, and your message might even fall flat. And, on net balance, your message might do you more harm than good within your social circle.

But you are thinking like a good leader right now, and that's great.
You have taken stock of the situation, didn't jump right in swept up by emotions, and you want to strike a conciliatory tone.
That's exactly what's needed the most in these situations.

The risk that comes with it is part of the leadership burden.
Sometimes in life you need to put yourself on the line to do what you think is right.
If things don't go as well as you hoped, you will still know that you've done the right thing, and that's what matters.

Plus, it's also an opportunity to learn and grow.
Today, you are sharing your message with your social circle.
Tomorrow, who knows, you might be speaking to a larger circle. Or run for office.

So start planning that message, and send it out (and feel free to share it here for some feedback).
A few pointers:

Never make your audience feel bad for the position they are espousing
Avoid sounding like you're superior to them, and lecturing them
Avoid making your video sound like finger-pointing
Instead, make the anger feel justified
- Frame it as "yes, some of those people are thugs. some of them are exaggerating. And they need to be singled out"
Then make your pivot slow. Frame it as a win for all. Something like:

"what America and humanity needs the most right now, are bridges. We don't need any more flames. We have had enough flames. We don't any more fights. We have had enough flaes.
That's what the extremists want. We need to be bigger than extremists.
We need to show that a better way forward is possible.

Some people, high on emotions and anger, want an enemy to yell at.
It would be cool if we didn't any enemy, but you might better off providing one. Make that enemy the extremists who are burning and looting.
That way, it's easier than to pivot to the non-extremist protesters.

In crisis time, people are also looking for charismatic leaders to follow.
Make your message sound like a higher calling. The higher calling is to be superior to factions, to take the side of what's good for humanity.

The question is: will they be brave and strong enough to build bridges, now that we need bridges the most?
Because the world needs them to be those types of brave men.

At this point, I would show some images of Floyd's death to awaken the empathy of the watchers.
The video is heartbreaking. Everyone who's not a psychopath will sympathize with a man's suffering. That will make it easier to turn them to a more conciliatory tone.

Finally, make your calling feel like a step they can take for a better world.
Make it feel like the world needs them right now to do what's difficult to do: to forget the divisions and hurt, and to build bridges, for a better tomorrow.
We might have hurt each other in the past. But now we can stand united for a better world
Will they be strong enough to move past hate, and join love?

That might be a touching last message to give a final nudge in the right direction.

Hit these points, and you will have a far higher chance of having a real impact.
Go for it man, I'm cheering for you.

Community, new content and Confidence University now available here.

#5 · June 1, 2020, 8:10 pm

Thanks for the insightful answer. Constructing these messages are always difficult and I wanted to see your opinion in this whole issue before acting. I will try to construct something and see if the final result is appropriate to share. I'll also continue to monitor the landscape as much as I can to see when the time is right to share. Thanks again.