Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.
Urgency gets noticed, but does not always get results
Author: Seth Gordon Posted: 8/29/2000; 8:27:26 AM Topic: scriptingNews outline for 8/28/2000 Msg #: 20471 (In response to 20441) Prev/Next: 20470 / 20472
Run, don't walk, to your bookstore or library and obtain a copy of The Whole World Is Watching, by Todd Gitlin. Gitlin, a former leader of SDS, observed that the loudest, scruffiest, and most radical anti-Vietnam-War protestors got the most attention from the media. The protesters confused time on TV screens with influence on the general public, and this led to a positive-feedback cycle -- the protests' rhetoric and style kept getting more radical, and most Americans were alienated from the movement. Thus, when a moderate movement against the Vietnam War emerged, it was almost completely disconnected from the radicals.By reading this book, you may understand:
- why RMS's media attention outstrips his ideological influence
- why you, through your rhetoric of urgency, may end up undermining your own cause
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