Convincing

"Don't try to convince" is one of my mantras in narrative strategy:

You don't communicate to convince those who don't believe in it. You communicate to bring together those who already love it but don't know you exist.

I'm realizing it's the same in politics, on television, even at family dinners.

Most journalists aren't looking for the truth. Neither are the commenters under your video. Nor your uncle at the table.

They talk to prove they're right. (I've talked about this before.)

But at that game, TV journalists have a certain talent that often drives their success: they use every trick of the trade to contradict, unsettle or ridicule anyone who doesn't support a line chosen in advance.

You have to know that. Otherwise you don't understand. You're stunned. You get angry.

So when you take part, you need to be clear about your goal.

You're not there to convince the people on set (or in the comments, or at the table). But to show part of the audience that another way of thinking exists.

Some will respond to it. I'd even say: that's all they're waiting for. Provided you're able to express it clearly, without getting angry, and without falling into the traps.

Which is perfectly possible once you've grasped the true nature of the game.

And understood that you must never answer the questions.

You must tell your story.