My apologies but, I must say that a 90% ratio in stakeholders that feel there is no problem; a 2% ratio of those that are aware of a problem and insist on change; an 8% ratio of those who are aware but don?t care. I don?t see the defined use of the word ?apathy? nothing supports it. What I see, and I see this far to often, is a defensive posture from a 2% group of people that conclude others to be less informed when in reality it may be they truly are.
I hate the use of the word apathy, when it comes to environmental concerns, as it is most often used as a handicapped method of dismissing those who do not agree. Most often this is associated with the fact that the message was not presented correctly and/or in its entirety. If a person does not see my point or understand the supporting data that I present, if they just don?t see my take on it; I would say that I am the one that suffers from apathy. I must be the one with a self absorbed belief that everyone should see it as I do and not have to fully understand cause-and-effect.
I have seen the word apathy used far to often as a means of dismissing those that may care even more than that 2%. Everywhere this word is used; a battle will come about. All of the factual data is now secondary and the war of words will only increase. Picasso believed that everything in the world was linked mathematically; lets put the scenario into equation context of reality: (-90% + -8% +2%= 0 change and poor delivery). Perhaps it is the result of a poor business plan with a horrible strategy.
Far to many groups feel that the best approach is to go to print and start the accusatory process of character assassination by demographics. Well, at least they know how the battle will be fought as the tone has been set. Perhaps some find comfort in knowing how they will continue to fight their war over the next 10 years, probably longer.
I firmly believe in and use communication tools as a system of measuring my abilities of conveying my message so that others know what I am talking about: If a person makes my point before I do, then I would say that I shared information properly and never made anyone feel as though I was talking down to them. No one likes to be told what he or she can or cannot do nor do they like to be talked down to, it is very insulting and requires defensive posturing. Heck, if someone came up to me and said that we are here to tell you what you need to do and we are going to fix all of you environmental problems. I too would slam the door in their face. If I used that same approach when I first started these projects; there would be nothing more than big wars taking place through out the community.
As I once stated: What is more important; wining a war or building a real coalition? Should I focus more on convincing others that people suffer from apathy or focus on the fact that my demeanor got in the way and I blew it big time! They never listened to the supporting data/resolution and/or current environmental condition reprts because my ego was more important. I have learned that those so called ?apathy? persons do talk and they do care. They get most of there information from good ole Bubba types and Bubba may be wrong in most cases. It doesn?t mean that Bubba is bad, it merely means that Bubba is trying to figure it all out but no one knocked on his door and respectfully explained all of the supporting data; so that he can understand it. Some of those, who originally trashed what they thought I was proposing, are now some of the most supportive and actively involved. Why? I knocked on their door and asked what their thoughts were, I then shared the real-life supporting studies and data, very important; I first respected them and told them as much, I then shut up and listened, a lot of what the Bubba types said is true but they never thought of fixing it the way that the new resolution supported.
Other people considered Bubba types to suffer from apathy, how convenient it is to do so. Now, about the apathetic Bubba types? Most made all of my points before I did as I presented the supporting data in a nonthreating and respectful way, now most are in full support?
Bubba represents no actual named person but does represent the once majority of the population, your 98%. Bubba?s name is supplemented as one of several hundred people and the amount of doors that I actually knocked on.
I can?t help but feel that apathy is a word that is used far to often by those that suffer from an awareness in the art of human conditioning and understanding. Nope, none of this is an insult at/or towards anyone and I offer apologies if it is perceived that way. I only offer this as something to measure and perhaps ponder.
Once again, what is most important, getting your point across or wining a battle that never had to be fought?
Best Regards
[This message has been edited by BenC (edited 26 January 2005).]