In a similar way, it would be helpful to find ways to overcome the Bystander Effect. That is, building awareness is necessary but not sufficient. Awareness without a sense of agency breeds hopelessness and fatalistic disengagement. So, an important next step, beyond what you discuss here, is to say, “And here are things we can do.” I hope that list of things extends beyond “write your representatives and donate money.” It seems cruel to tell people about a problem without hinting at ways they can act to mitigate it, even from completely outside the spheres of academia, venture capital, or the tech industry. I wonder whether any such ways exist.
I think it’s useful to separate the request to act from the argument itself. Feeling like you’d have to change your life if you allow yourself to believe there’s a problem will activate motivated reasoning to preserve your current beliefs.
But feeling hopeless about the future, or even helpless, will do the same thing. So I’d alter this to include something along the lines of “there are things everyone can do to help, like asking for good public policies”.
I think I did include an optimistic statement to head off hopelessness in both of those short treatments, but helplessness is important too.
In a similar way, it would be helpful to find ways to overcome the Bystander Effect. That is, building awareness is necessary but not sufficient. Awareness without a sense of agency breeds hopelessness and fatalistic disengagement. So, an important next step, beyond what you discuss here, is to say, “And here are things we can do.” I hope that list of things extends beyond “write your representatives and donate money.” It seems cruel to tell people about a problem without hinting at ways they can act to mitigate it, even from completely outside the spheres of academia, venture capital, or the tech industry. I wonder whether any such ways exist.
Good point.
I think it’s useful to separate the request to act from the argument itself. Feeling like you’d have to change your life if you allow yourself to believe there’s a problem will activate motivated reasoning to preserve your current beliefs.
But feeling hopeless about the future, or even helpless, will do the same thing. So I’d alter this to include something along the lines of “there are things everyone can do to help, like asking for good public policies”.
I think I did include an optimistic statement to head off hopelessness in both of those short treatments, but helplessness is important too.