From: sunfell	Date: May 8th, 2005 03:05 pm (UTC)		(Link)

If I've learned one thing in my own long study of developing trends- this one in particular- is that people are unwilling to take such things seriously until the problem directly effects them, or someone they know. Until that happens, people who are the 'early warning' sorts tend to be dismissed.

Another thing I have learned is if you go blasting onto unrelated boards hollering about the [insert latest nastybadeviltyrant here], you will hit a wall and get bounced right back out. The best approach is to permit the subject to come to you naturally, which means patience. It also requires two other things: learning the board culture and building a 'rep' on the board with unrelated subjects as well as cultivating a background of trust and authority on the subject that permits people to absorb it gradually. I don't know what other boards you've posted on, but I noted that the reaction on the Wiccan board was exactly that of people clapping their hands over their ears when hit with a loud noise. That is not the way to go about spreading the word or garnering interest in the subject.

In my own Pagan community, I am seen as an authority on religion- not only Pagan, but also Christian, Jewish, and many others. I know the most about Protestant Christianity, because I had to study it in self-defense when I was repeatedly attacked by people bent on 'saving' my soul. I know all sorts of stuff about Christianity- its history, sects, schisms, heresies, etc. I've made seminary graduates slink away in embarrassment for not knowing the history of their own faith.

In order to engage a community on anything- be it awareness of the theocratic threat or anything else, you have to engage their self-interest. How does this affect them? What will a theocratic takeover mean for their future? What are the theocrats saying about their faith? Who or what is directly threatened? We can engage the GLBT community easily because they are constantly being held up as being 'abominations'. We can engage women because women stand to lose all their reproductive and personal autonomy under a theocratic government. We can engage regular mainstream Christians because their particular faith will be considered 'not good enough' by the hardliners. We can engage the poor because their needs will no longer be addressed. And we can engage Pagans and other non Abrahamic faiths by telling them what the theocrats have in store for 'nonbelievers'.

So, my advice to you for future posts is this: Never use a sledgehammer where a feather will work.

	From: allisburning	Date: May 8th, 2005 05:18 pm (UTC)		(Link)

"people are unwilling to take such things seriously until the problem directly effects them, or someone they know."

Very true. Unfortunately this translates as: Hey, no problem! - right up until the time that the guys with the machine guns are loading you into the boxcars.

"So, my advice to you for future posts is this: Never use a sledgehammer where a feather will work."

I think that in general I do follow this advice, however, with my latest series of posts to many groups, I haven't really intended to stay around for a while "engaging" people on the subject.

I just wanted to pop in, shout, "Hey, your building's on fire!", and pop out again. I assume that for many people, this will constitute a wake-up call, get them paying attention to the subject, discussing it with others, etc.

Thanks!

.

	From: sunfell	Date: May 8th, 2005 05:28 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I understand how frustrating it can be- and believe me, I'm doing all I can to let my own circles of friends know about this problem. In fact, I am working on a something like a mini-conference to present to my fellow Pagan friends, and another for my Christian friends. It'll be the same as the Pagan presentation, but without the Pagan-specific stuff included.

It will take time, but that time will be well worth it.

	From: gothic_oreo	Date: May 8th, 2005 11:06 pm (UTC)		(Link)

You could quit spamming as well.

	From: allisburning	Date: May 9th, 2005 10:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Spamming? I don't think I'm spamming. Maybe I don't understand the definition correctly. Can you help me out here?