Be Passionate but Be Professional
Guys, Please here me out. I was a my meet up at a coffee shop when a young girl inquired about Ron Paul. Instead of welcoming her and offering her a little bit of information, one of our overzealous members tried to hand her a whole box load of DVDs, bumper stickers, and a yard sign. He then went on at length about aboishing the Federal Reserve. The girl was turned off immeadiately. I could see it in her eyes. Nobody is converted on the spot, if they are, it makes you wonder about their decision making skills. Most people need a little information that they can go mull over by themselves and then make an informed decison. That's the great thing about Dr. Paul's message, if they are expsosed to it subtly, they will come around on their own.
Think about when someone has tried to beat you over the head with their religous view point. It is a complete turn off. That is just human nature. Nobody wants to be forced into something. I think some of us need a makeover. We had to do what we had to do to get heard and now that we are let's not ruin it by being overzealous. Let's be professonal in our approaches to the unconverted. We have to reach average Joe and Jane!!! To do that we have to understand the psyhcology of them. What would they respond to? Would it be some guy in a Statue of Liberty outfit screaming about 9/11, or a calm, cool and collected person who is very knowledgabe and most of all polite!!!! This is the batte kids, let's not screw it up!
Thanks for listening,
Todd Harrel
You are correct
Of course you are right. In a perfect world, every Ron Paul supporter would be calm, cool, rational, attractive, and persuasive. All the signs would be beautiful works of art instead of spray-painted bedsheets, and the homemade dvds would be slick high def documentaries instead of cobbled together clips snatched off youtube. This actually bothered me for awhile. I love our local meetup group. I don't think I have ever been involved with a group of any kind where I liked and respected each individual so much. But there is ONE guy . . .
I'm not going to give much detail here because I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings for anything, but he has allowed the drive for quantity and volume to overwhelm any concern for quality. For example, he produces huge numbers of stenciled signs that just look like s%^&* and he brings them ALL to the sign waves and sets them out along the road. They look like dumpster graffiti. Yuck.
So one day I am surveying this clutter of ugly signs and thinking about how I wish he wouldn't do that and then I had a realization that has made it easy for me to accept this enthusiastic outpouring of junk.
The thought came to me that love isn't always pretty. This guy loves Ron Paul and liberty in the best way he knows how. It is HIS way. And that has to be good enough for me. So I let go of the need to have him do what I think he should do.
I'm not disagreeing with your point at all. And maybe we can all gently reign in those more excitable supporters, or try to aim them in a direction where their talents can do the most good. But remember, love isn't always pretty! Hahahahaha! Have fun!
Peace
I Understand
crackers4paul
I understand what you are saying. I am not denouncing our enthusiasm at all, it is what got us where we are today! All I am saying is when approaching the non converted, remember you catch more flies with honey! I think back to when I found out about Ron Paul. A guy I work with whose conduct has always been admirable was wearing a RP pin on his shirt. I asked him about him and he was passionate, but also respectful and knowledgeable. His exact statement was, "Todd, I can't think for you. You have your own mind but I would really appreciate it if you would just take a look at Dr. Pauls website and then decide for yourself. That is all I can ask." A week later, I told everyone I knew in the same fashion. All I am saying is "Use Your Head!!" we are here to win supporters, so know who you are talking to and then use the appropriate psychology.
Thanks
Todd Harrel
Emergency in IOWA!!
Everyone's help desperately needed. If you are dying to pitch in somewhere but don't know what to do with yourself please know that there is an voter registration emergency in IOWA TODAY that needs EVERYONE'S HELP.
The deadline to register to vote in IOWA WAS this MONDAY DECEMBER 24th! That's Christmas Eve and the county courthouses are CLOSED MONDAY. TODAY is the real deadline!!! Register to vote republican in person TODAY at your County Auditor's Office in IOWA. NOBODY KNOWS THIS!
The WHOLE NATION of Ron Paul supporters must reach out to Iowa by any and all means TODAY before this afternoon when the county auditor office closes!
Iowa is a closed primary state. You MUST be registered republican and although those who are already registered to vote supposedly MAY be able to change party affiliation at the caucus be aware that the GOP website in Iowa calls Bush the best president ever and they consider Rush Limbaugh and Michael Medved visionaries and they may try to pull something. Go IN PERSON during business hours to your county auditor's office TODAY and register republican. SPREAD NEWS OF THIS in Meetups, Youtube video comments, myspace & forums. Somebody forward this to the GENERAL!
Somebody tell the ronpaul 1100!