Comments on: We tried to change things before; it doesn't work. This is the way we've always done it… http://veryofficialblog.com/2008/07/29/we-tried-to-change-things-before-it-doesnt-work-this-is-the-way-weve-always-done-it/ Social Media Integration Means Business Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:43:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Tim (@Twalk) Walker http://veryofficialblog.com/2008/07/29/we-tried-to-change-things-before-it-doesnt-work-this-is-the-way-weve-always-done-it/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Tim (@Twalk) Walker Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:55:13 +0000 http://shannonpaul.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-120 You've touched on a huge, important topic in this short post. To my mind, comeback #1 is less likely to be effective, simply because the conversation (maybe just with my friends / colleagues) is likely to devolve into poor Yoda imitations. But #2 is very good, because it short-circuits our tendency to make hard-and-fast dichotomies. It's way too easy for folks who have been burned once -- whether because of poor timing, lack of skills, lack of effort, random back luck, whatever -- to assume that they'll be burned again if they try. And you're absolutely right that #3 is the devastating one. I think it's because it gently puts the skeptic on the spot: are you saying that *I* should share your cynicism? Most of us don't embrace the cynic's role, I think, and most of us don't want to rain on others' parades. So we back up and figure out how to be helpful or remove a barrier or share some wisdom, instead of falling back reflexively on our objections. You’ve touched on a huge, important topic in this short post. To my mind, comeback #1 is less likely to be effective, simply because the conversation (maybe just with my friends / colleagues) is likely to devolve into poor Yoda imitations.

But #2 is very good, because it short-circuits our tendency to make hard-and-fast dichotomies. It’s way too easy for folks who have been burned once — whether because of poor timing, lack of skills, lack of effort, random back luck, whatever — to assume that they’ll be burned again if they try.

And you’re absolutely right that #3 is the devastating one. I think it’s because it gently puts the skeptic on the spot: are you saying that *I* should share your cynicism? Most of us don’t embrace the cynic’s role, I think, and most of us don’t want to rain on others’ parades. So we back up and figure out how to be helpful or remove a barrier or share some wisdom, instead of falling back reflexively on our objections.

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