Question for creative thinkers
How can we market character traits such as honesty and intelligence to be as popular as a football game? Soccer game? Or even Cheetos? We need people to “buy in “ on the importance of these traits!
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Abstraction · 61-69, M
There's a step before this. Because 'marketing' is several levels too shallow. It's more about appeal than the ability to change character. You need evidence-based research on what it takes to develop this kind of character. I'm referring here to honesty. Intelligence I'll deal with later.
1. Everyone is already in favour of honesty towards them.
2. Yet many people rationalise, justify their own dishonesty in dozens of ways. Hmm...
3. Real honesty takes a commitment to a set of values, character (= commitment to do right even if no-one is looking) and courage.
You can't market that. You need to start by developing certain traits in children from parents who have actually grown up themselves. In 1700s England the social conditions were so bad that many historians noted it could easily have gone the way of the French revolution. The reason it didn't is attributed to the rise of the Wesleyan and Methodist movements that led to social change. They formed 'societies' to address different social issues. Down the track it led to care for the poor, labour rights, shelter for homeless, care for orphans, tuition free schools for poor children, suffrage, care for the elderly, address abuse of alcohol, eventually the prevention of cruelty to animals, the abolition of slavery... since the fought these things through changes of laws, setting up institutions and getting their own hands dirty doing real work to help people Underpinning it were the means of turning people's lives around to a set of values, caring for your family, etc - which genuinely turned tens of thousands of lives around positively. It's all well-documented. The so-called evil Christianity in action. (I'm not saying we need religion to do good, just sharing the historical context.)
Intelligence - are you referring to addressing the anti-intellectualism, anti-science, conspiracy swallowing issues? Because you can't make someone intelligent, but you can promote rational thought and respect for evidence-based science and policy, etc.
1. Everyone is already in favour of honesty towards them.
2. Yet many people rationalise, justify their own dishonesty in dozens of ways. Hmm...
3. Real honesty takes a commitment to a set of values, character (= commitment to do right even if no-one is looking) and courage.
You can't market that. You need to start by developing certain traits in children from parents who have actually grown up themselves. In 1700s England the social conditions were so bad that many historians noted it could easily have gone the way of the French revolution. The reason it didn't is attributed to the rise of the Wesleyan and Methodist movements that led to social change. They formed 'societies' to address different social issues. Down the track it led to care for the poor, labour rights, shelter for homeless, care for orphans, tuition free schools for poor children, suffrage, care for the elderly, address abuse of alcohol, eventually the prevention of cruelty to animals, the abolition of slavery... since the fought these things through changes of laws, setting up institutions and getting their own hands dirty doing real work to help people Underpinning it were the means of turning people's lives around to a set of values, caring for your family, etc - which genuinely turned tens of thousands of lives around positively. It's all well-documented. The so-called evil Christianity in action. (I'm not saying we need religion to do good, just sharing the historical context.)
Intelligence - are you referring to addressing the anti-intellectualism, anti-science, conspiracy swallowing issues? Because you can't make someone intelligent, but you can promote rational thought and respect for evidence-based science and policy, etc.
Mindful · 56-60, F
@Abstraction thank you so very much.
I think that there are too many people… lying… and those lies cause harm.
But also, perhaps there is too much punishment for being honest….
I think that there are too many people… lying… and those lies cause harm.
But also, perhaps there is too much punishment for being honest….
ElRengo · 70-79, M
Most of traits are only "potential" if you think them as individual "character" ones.
In a sense they are a bit like genotype. But the ones who live and do, thrive or fail are phenotypes.
And are not context free.
They thrive or fail in interacion with others, according to the material and cultural criteria of societies. Are social even if not always in an explicit way.
So IMO, the way to promote certain traits is to build societies and cultures where those traits are critically needed and so celebrated.
I understand what you asked for.
But IMO your question haves an inner paradox.
Market (and popularity) "laws" are not frequently compatible with honesty and intelligence (of the kind I imagine you mean) or at least not as "popular" ones.
The same of what would be needed to "sell" them would make of them a fake.
In a sense they are a bit like genotype. But the ones who live and do, thrive or fail are phenotypes.
And are not context free.
They thrive or fail in interacion with others, according to the material and cultural criteria of societies. Are social even if not always in an explicit way.
So IMO, the way to promote certain traits is to build societies and cultures where those traits are critically needed and so celebrated.
I understand what you asked for.
But IMO your question haves an inner paradox.
Market (and popularity) "laws" are not frequently compatible with honesty and intelligence (of the kind I imagine you mean) or at least not as "popular" ones.
The same of what would be needed to "sell" them would make of them a fake.
ElRengo · 70-79, M
@Mindful
Maybe it´s about their wanna-be.
Icons of a certain variety of success they would want for themselves.
And that...is universal and timeless.
Deep and valuable people also have their admired ones.
The difference is perhaps not so much keeping someones as examples but what kind of examples are offered. That is, what is taken as succesful and about what.
So, again, the better way (not an esasy one) is to create the social conditions such that good and intelligent people MAY become the examples.
Maybe it´s about their wanna-be.
Icons of a certain variety of success they would want for themselves.
And that...is universal and timeless.
Deep and valuable people also have their admired ones.
The difference is perhaps not so much keeping someones as examples but what kind of examples are offered. That is, what is taken as succesful and about what.
So, again, the better way (not an esasy one) is to create the social conditions such that good and intelligent people MAY become the examples.
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PhoenixPhail · M
Jayciedubb · 56-60, M
You have to find a way to turn those character traits paths of least resistance (POLR). That's natures key to success. The problem is that deceit is already the path of least resistance between honesty and deceit. You might have better luck finding an alternate universe where honesty and integrity come natural and lying and deceit must be learned and practiced.
checkoutanytime · M
softspokenman · M
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Mindful · 56-60, F
You are quite talented@SW-User