The Power of Words

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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on August 20, 2011 at 11:07am

That was good.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on August 20, 2011 at 12:35pm

How very profound. A perfect and striking illustration of the power of words getting through the numbing of people to touch them. 

gentle day,

Lisa

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Permalink Reply by James Szeles on August 20, 2011 at 1:15pm

@Lisa I thoughts so also. What a simple yea powerful use of words.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on August 20, 2011 at 3:12pm

I have changed the panhandlers signs in Tulsa from "Will work for food"  to:

"What would you need if you were hungry?"

 

The first sign is ineffective, the second sign requires a passwrby to do a transderivational search, and the response is they double the amount collected becasue the sign is not about the panhandler, but now about the passerbyer.

 

Great video James, thanx for posting it.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on August 20, 2011 at 6:13pm

     Wow, Richard, that's brilliant and thoughtful.

    I usually ignore the "will work for food" signs because the last time I took someone up on it they declined. Apparently most people rather than actually offer the person some work just give them money and the panhandlers expect this. One guy approached me for money saying he was hungry and handn't eaten in 2 days. I offered to buy him a meal at the restaurant next to the sidewalk we were standing on. He declined my offer as well. 

     I did give a panhandler money who had a sign that read "I need money for beer, hookers, and drugs. At least I am honest about it."

    Had a guy in World of Warcraft advertising he would dance naked for gold in Stormwind city in front of the bank. That was a novel approach, made me laugh at his hutzpah and creativity. He got gold out of me and I was entertained (in game) for a few minutes.  

   gentle day,

     Lisa

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Permalink Reply by Jagi Egnell on August 21, 2011 at 11:39am

Really nice and very touching.

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Permalink Reply by terri b on August 21, 2011 at 12:33pm

people gave more because those words put them in his place?

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on August 21, 2011 at 3:44pm

Hi Terri,

     Could be. I think your question is great.

     How might this different way of crafting a message to make it more powerful work? 

     I think what is happening in that video is it illustrates how using the first set of words "I'm blind, please help" focuses on asking for something based on his disability-how he is different, maybe people are afraid of being blind so they react with fear of the condition, or they have experienced so many people asking for something that they are numb to his plea-processing the message rationally without emotion, sort of automatically. Perhaps they do this as a way of distancing themselves from him-erecting a barrier or wall of sorts. They don't have the same experience as him so they have no or very little emotional association or connection with him. The first message is crafted in a way that it's emotional appeal is very limited and people are numb to it, able to easily be numb to his appeal for help. The second message "It is a beautiful day, but I can't see it." may be much more effective because it is novel-they haven't seen it crafted in such a way all their lives so the brain instead of automatically categorizing it, processes it differently. It could be because it evokes very different feelings-showing what they have in common first, associations with what makes up a beautiful day to them. It gets past their resistance. It touches them with a much wider more open emotional message engaging more of their senses, memories, and associations with what makes a beautiful day. Pleasure, beauty, sunlight, warmth, joy, love, and more. It uses what we have in common with each other, with that man. It makes a connection. Maybe the message of it is a beautiful day releases neurochemicals based on those associations or memories or regions of the brain are activated differently than the first message evokes in people. They don't process the message in the same way or as quickly, or with rationality alone-it stops them for a moment longer, giving them time to evoke a stronger or greater emotional response to him as another human being first. They don't automatically become resistant to his need or request for help. In the second message it is very indirect. The thought to help him comes from them inside, like it is their own idea to help him which might be more easily accepted by them because it is from them. Their own idea which gives it more weight to it to them. The direct plea for help from the man is recognized by their minds as coming from outside them-from someone else-it is much easier and faster to resist parting with money. It is harder to accept and fewer people respond to it. It may work, not for any one reason, but by making use of multiple reasons that appeal to more people.  

   Others here have more training, different approaches to how the mind/brain works, and more experience than I. More insight than I have.

   Does it really work or does the video touch and appeal to us because it supports what we want to believe is true? The effect of the music used, the image of people unconcerned and ignoring the blind man in the first part. One person thinking outside the box makes a difference for another human being that looks very powerful. The square of material the man is sitting on being different from the rest of the area pointing out his separation from others, they are in motion going by quickly, he is relatively still. A starkness, alone in the midst of many people. It all has emotional impact on people viewing the video. Changing the message and more people are shown connecting to him and giving/caring for him, the entire scene increases in energy and speed. Excitement, the pause as the woman who changed the message comes back by him and expresses the reason why she did what she did and why people reacted differently to him. Gave him much more.

    I think Richards experience doing the same thing and getting the same results supports that it really does work. That makes me trust the message of the video more. Before reading his post I was inclined to believe the message of that video is likely true, it is beautiful and interesting,  but also tempered that with my feeling that evoking emotions can be used to sway people about a message apart from whether the message itself is actually valid. Richards similar experience in crafting such a message kicked the possible validity of the video's message up a notch for me making the video's message more probable in my mind as being true and valid than before.  

    gentle day,

Lisa

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Permalink Reply by Henrique de Azevêdo on August 21, 2011 at 7:26pm

Amazing.

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Permalink Reply by Henrique de Azevêdo on August 21, 2011 at 7:33pm

Hi, Richard!

 

I believe that's what happens when we're dealing with good commercials like the one posted.

Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com said:

I have changed the panhandlers signs in Tulsa from "Will work for food"  to:

"What would you need if you were hungry?"

 

The first sign is ineffective, the second sign requires a passwrby to do a transderivational search, and the response is they double the amount collected becasue the sign is not about the panhandler, but now about the passerbyer.

 

Great video James, thanx for posting it.

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Permalink Reply by J3n Wilding on August 22, 2011 at 6:01pm

Both the video and Richard's Tulsa account are great reminders of the power of words. In addition to being more 'transderivational' they both evoke a spirit of gratitude, which naturally inspires giving in the same that homeless shelters and other charity organizations receive more donations during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah despite their ongoing needs 365 days a year. The more accessible comparison to those less fortunate is kicked up a notch during those times.

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