For me Rob, some people might need guilt tripping. Certainly not the number one tactic, but if someone is causing preventable harm through ignorance, stupidity or selfishness and a truth, gently and kindly revealed, trips them into guilt... and behaviour change...then so be it. I know that my own guilt and shame emotions drive some of my choices.
Good points Mike - as you say perhaps it's about trying to explore other ways first that might achieve the same goal. In a world of perpetual culture wars it can feel difficult & counter-productive to point the finger or "guilt-trip" even when it may be justified - we're so polarised that you often don't end up getting very far. But not challenging people can be a cop out too.
I suppose it’s about intent. I would never (?) deliberately aim to guilt trip someone. However if pointing out the implications of an action makes people feel guilty... well, I suppose they really guilt trip themselves. People idling their 4x4s outside the school gates were a classic...
Just catching up with this now - interesting to read that some scientists feel that they need to take a more emotional approach to communicating about the climate crisis. In her 2018 book 'Climate Generation - Awakening to our children's future', environmental campaigner Lorna Gold writes about how she was criticised for being 'emotional' in her public speaking. Ultimately I guess in our response to the threat to the planet and on the other side, a joy in its beauty which we want to preserve, we can't ignore that there is a strong emotional element.
For me Rob, some people might need guilt tripping. Certainly not the number one tactic, but if someone is causing preventable harm through ignorance, stupidity or selfishness and a truth, gently and kindly revealed, trips them into guilt... and behaviour change...then so be it. I know that my own guilt and shame emotions drive some of my choices.
Good points Mike - as you say perhaps it's about trying to explore other ways first that might achieve the same goal. In a world of perpetual culture wars it can feel difficult & counter-productive to point the finger or "guilt-trip" even when it may be justified - we're so polarised that you often don't end up getting very far. But not challenging people can be a cop out too.
I suppose it’s about intent. I would never (?) deliberately aim to guilt trip someone. However if pointing out the implications of an action makes people feel guilty... well, I suppose they really guilt trip themselves. People idling their 4x4s outside the school gates were a classic...
Just catching up with this now - interesting to read that some scientists feel that they need to take a more emotional approach to communicating about the climate crisis. In her 2018 book 'Climate Generation - Awakening to our children's future', environmental campaigner Lorna Gold writes about how she was criticised for being 'emotional' in her public speaking. Ultimately I guess in our response to the threat to the planet and on the other side, a joy in its beauty which we want to preserve, we can't ignore that there is a strong emotional element.