The Dramafied Feeling Map

Whether it is face-to-face or online, interactions stimulate both thinking and feeling. The Dramafied Feeling Map is a way to track reactions to facts and opinions that contradict what we believe to be true. Articulating how we feel is a first step, but management is usually required.

EEEK is not only as much about surprise as it is fear. New information can threaten to disrupt the foundation of understanding.

POO allows sadness to turn into denial. New  information can threaten one's sense of self and identity.

UGH is a way of shutting down in frustration. New information may be blocked.

GRRR is the anger that comes with rejection that surfaces when our foundation of belief and understanding is threatened.

AH HA is that special moment of validation or acceptance when we integrate new information and gain new insight.

We cycle through these emotions when learning new information. Why? Because we are living beings. Not even the best science of the brain explains what that means.

Acknowledging emotional baggage helps us manage those feelings so we can think with greater vision and clarity.

Context Rules

Most women and many men have experienced some kind of harassment in all types of workplaces. However, sexual and racial harassment are not about words, they are about power dynamics and pervasive behaviors within a context. 

The hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas included sexual harassment accusations by Anita Hill. That was 1991. Following his confirmation, corporations and government agencies embraced not only anti-harassment training, but welcomed effective and innovative approaches. Their goal was to increase reporting so they could resolve issues to avoid legal action. However, filing a claim or suing an organization for harassment is not only difficult, but expensive for the accuser. 

Two decades later, sexual abuse and harassment are in the headlines. Sadly, these repugnant behaviors are not being assessed based on context. Political arguments can also tailor facts and ignore context. Why ponder ramifications and underlying circumstances when a meme can capture and promote ideas out of context?

Thinking is required to investigate each and every unique context as a way of finding resolution. Setting aside money for settlements only maintains a sexualized or racially charged working environment. The process of training and reporting needs to be less about blame and more about good management. 

Time for everyone to step up - especially those in power who need to think about not only professional ramifications, but the personal damages. Will thinking replace reaction and cover-up? Will we opt for context rather than generalizations? Hard to know.

Changing Your Mind

There are many types of online debaters on the multitude of platforms. These activities can be fun or serve as an outlet for frustration. Supposed debates that are ineffective include:

• mutual ranting with rhetoric and memes
• name-calling instead of providing substance
• arguments that rely on fallacies
• whining without making a point

Debates like these aren't really debates at all. Debate requires engagement, listening and focus. The best part of a good debate is that at the very least, you will learn something - you might even change your mind.

Re-evaluating and discarding arguments that you've always used is a challenge. You are required to dig deep and discover why you chose to believe such a thing in the first place. It's personal and conditioned by the nurturing you received or by those you deemed a reliable authority.

Letting go of a belief is a remarkable experience. Sometimes setting yourself up to change your mind is divine.Talk about a high.

Sigmos, Memes & Brands

Consider these definitions:

sigmo = a significant moment of "ah ha" or laughter
meme =  a virally-transmitted cultural symbol or social idea
brand = a mark of quick and effective identification

When presenting your thoughts, debating and writing, you're marketing your ideas. This begins with giving your target market a significant moment of validation, recognition or amusement as an initial means of engagement. Turning those ideas into memes has challenged even the best marketers. Why does some rhetoric or certain pictures go viral? No one really knows. However, although a few turn successful memes into a career, the life of most memes is short.

Branding gives ideas and written materials long life. Whether you like him or not, President Trump is a master of branding. His rants at rallies offer a vision that feeds the needs of his base. The rhetoric is memorable even when inappropriate. His brand is so powerful, there is little he can do to hurt his brand in the eyes of those who support him.

When thinking about the presentation or writing of ideas, consider branding. Grab your market with a sigmo and help your target market make a personal identification with your work. If you're lucky enough to see any or all of your work turn into a meme, use it to turn your work into a brand to maintain your market. 

The only hazard of branding (and memes) is they often take on a life of their own if you're not careful, and sometimes even when you are.

Twitter Arguments

The president uses Twitter as a direct means of communication to the American people and the world, and his tweet will be preserved as historical documents.

Twitter is an opportunity to reduce and refine arguments to their essence. Users are invited to offer research to support their arguments. Sometimes pics or comics further reduce the argument into visual terms that communicate effectively.

Twitter can also diminish the power of meaningful debate. One danger is relying on rhetoric instead of addressing specific arguments. A focus on detail can distract from the big picture. Assumptions about the definition of labels can trigger misunderstandings and inappropriate stereotypes. And then there are the trolls and bots whose only agenda is to promote their agenda.

Chat with those who disagree with. Mindful use of Twitter by connecting with those who avoid the dangers can be illuminating, providing resources and cites previously unexplored. It's really okay to change your mind.

And please - avoid name-calling and driving the

Dictionary Fallacy

Dictionaries are a useful tool for learning the definition of words, but may not be enough to understand their meaning. Words that express strategies, philosophies or other big picture concerns require more than a few phrases.Using simple definitions in arguments makes for simplistic arguments.

In today's short attention world, it's easy to get caught in the trap of simplistic thinking, The brevity of expression required in social media can turn complex concepts into rhetoric such that words lose their meaning. Assumptions of meaning can make for misunderstanding and poor communication.

The current use of "liberal" and "conservative" in today's political environment is a prime example. Rather than delineating differing strategies of governing, these two terms have become identities that assume no middle ground, overlap or shared values. Sadly, win/lose arguments in governing mean everyone loses.

Relying on dictionaries for understanding complex ideas undermines finding resolution, whether in argument or problem solving. Taking the time to better understand ideologies and strategies requires work but is worth the effort.

Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias is bending evidence to fit one's beliefs. Arguments that use confirmation bias can sound reasonable. Evidence is provided and conclusions are made. However, the evidence can also be manipulated to conclude something else or even the opposite.

Politicians are especially skilled at using confirmation bias. Sound bite rhetoric reinforces the claims made. When fear-mongering is added to the mix, arguments turn into tirades. This is one reason for the current bipartisan divisiveness. Each side manipulates the facts to confirm what they believe and support their thinking with emotional drama..

Want proof of this phenomenon? Try this:

• Go onto Twitter and calmly engage in an debate with someone who disagrees with you. 
• Ignore the name-calling and focus on the arguments
• Manipulate their evidence to prove the opposite of what they are claiming
• Some will respond with more rhetoric that can be picked apart. You can bombard these folks with facts, but it likely won't make any difference. 
• Others may offer new information and resources. Investigate, assimilate and/or discard. You may discover your own confirmation bias in the process.

Thinking people want to find a meeting point so they can walk away from a debate without rancor. Yes, there is always a meeting point because we are all human.