Whats the best way to convince a friend?

[Melbourne Lefty]

Ive got a friend who is totally uninterested in politics, she agrees with left wing stuff when she hears it, but then when someone starts mouthing off with right wing crap she agrees with that too!

It seems she has no mind of her own and I really want her to get some ideas that will help her out.

What should I say?:confused:

[politics student]

Teach her about the system she lives in and she should open her mind to the world of politics.

[Yehuda Stern]

With nonpolitical people, it's hard. I try to illustrate to people I know the way that the policies of the Israeli state, both in regards to the Palestinians and to workers in general, affect their lives negatively, and show the way in which a workers' state could rid them of these problems and improve their lives.

[Comrada J]

Find something that affects them personally.

[Catbus]

Find something that affects them personally.

Especially if they work in some type of labourous job.

I usually try to take them somewhere where I can show them leftists in action, be it Food Not Bombs or a free market or whatever.

[Lenin's Law]

With all that's happening around the world: prospect of a global recession looming, transfer of wealth to bail out financial aristocracy, military occupations etc to still be completely apolitical?!? Wow.

I would take the advice made here, use personal examples, explain your position but if still getting the same response that I wouldn't spend too much time on it. There is so much important work to be done organizing workers becoming increasingly radicalized by this. Also, could be wrong, but this person sounds very young and/or very immature, it could be that she has some growing up and maturing to do before being able to have a strong political point of view.

[Melbourne Lefty]

Also, could be wrong, but this person sounds very young and/or very immature, it could be that she has some growing up and maturing to do before being able to have a strong political point of view.


true, but other young people around me are enthusiastic about ideas and fighting against racism and capitalism. And its pretty easy to talk most people around with the world the way it is. Its just that this one girl doesnt seem to care. Drives me up the wall.

Is there anywhere I can get some really good easy to understand feminist stuff off the net? That might be a good start.

[Decolonize The Left]

Ive got a friend who is totally uninterested in politics, she agrees with left wing stuff when she hears it, but then when someone starts mouthing off with right wing crap she agrees with that too!

It seems she has no mind of her own and I really want her to get some ideas that will help her out.

What should I say?:confused:

I would first like to caution you against assuming that 'she has no mind of her own.' She probably has very deeply-rooted opinions and feelings, as most people tend to, but doesn't express them for one reason or another.

As a woman she experiences sexism daily. This is a fine place to start. You can find a plethora of information in regards to feminism on the internet. Wikipedia has an enormous page with many links which can be found here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism). You may also wish to browse the Feminist user group (http://www.revleft.com/vb/feminist-f117/index.html). There is a list of interesting reading material there as well.

In regards to sparking interest in leftism, it might be helpful to begin with feminism. One can then make the argument that the state and government are institutions of patriarchy and hence must be changed (if not overthrown, depending on your strand of feminism). The movement from feminism to anarchism/communism is merely the movement of defining gender relations as the primary issue to defining class as the primary issue.

- August

[Melbourne Lefty]

In regards to sparking interest in leftism, it might be helpful to begin with feminism


thanks for the links!:thumbup:

[FlamingChainsaws]

Show them books, that's what I do.

[chegitz guevara]

Ive got a friend who is totally uninterested in politics, . . .

What should I say?:confused:

Mark Twain is reported to have said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig." In other words, if she ain't interested, don't bother.

[FlamingChainsaws]

Also, make or buy some cheap cut-to-the-chase main idea pamphlets. Give them to all your friends, plus anyone else who you think could actually use their mind.

[benhur]

Shame always works. Make some subtle references to her social status, and relate it to the capitalist system, and how the ruling class is taxing the common man to become rich, while good people like her remain poor. Or, something of the sort.

Don't ever say anything directly, for instance, if you comment on sexism, she can (or her right-wing friends can) always point to islamic societies, and say, 'Compared to those oppressed women, what we have here is heaven." And so on and so forth. Make subtle references, and try to avoid words like socialism, communism etc. These words may get them to become prejudiced, and prevent them from listening. Just explain the concept, dont label it as socialism.

[Black Sheep]

Mark Twain is reported to have said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig." In other words, if she ain't interested, don't bother.
Pigs don't benefit from singing.

[Tatarin]

I guess it also depends on how "strong" you are when you talk to your friends. Personally, I think it is easier to spend time with one person and consentrate on that one, like a close friend you meet regularly or a partner. Also, I guess it also depends on how interested the person is in the change of society.

In addition, it is necessary to point out how politics is affecting them, i.e. that they influence everyday life. Even pointing out the disinterest in politics is a political opinion, and likely the one the ruling class wants you to have. Also, I don't think anyone can be "non-political". Any basic question can disprove that - for instance, should food be a right and be accessed to anyone who needs it?

Also, I think one can point out anything as an example of politics. For example, clean water. Who benefits from clean water? Who doesn't? Who pays for it, and what does that person or group want to pay less (or nothing) for it? Or about food - people want healthy food. So, who makes the food? What about the price? What about where you/other person lives? And so on.

[FlamingChainsaws]

Pigs don't benefit from singing.
Are you kidding me? They benefit it in more way than one!

[chegitz guevara]

Pigs don't benefit from singing.

That excuse justifies evangelicals trying to save your soul. We have a limited amount of time and a lot of work to do. If someone isn't interested, let it be instead of acting like a religious freak and forcing your politics down their throat. If she isn't interested, it will just piss her off and she'll break off the friendship.

[spice756]

Ive got a friend who is totally uninterested in politics, she agrees with left wing stuff when she hears it, but then when someone starts mouthing off with right wing crap she agrees with that too!


That is politically confused and I get that from people too.They hear both sides but realy do not understand both sides.And have not really confirm who they like.

Other just more naturally left or naturally right.The politically confused people are harder to work with.

Has for people not intrested in politics thank the system for that :( People work so dam much and when they come home work again have to make some thing to eat and do house work and have no time for rading intellectual stuff. They lucky to get 2 hours relaxation to relex the mind and watch tv ,smoke pot or drink or go to bar.

Well life is a burn out people have and have no time for intellectual stuff do to working and like a dam robot that never relex all work work work.

Other people you spend 8 to 10 hours at work, drive home in bad traffic ,do house work, make some thing to eat and off to church,go to store all work no free time for intellectual stuff and relaxation.

[Sprocket Hole]

Show them books, that's what I do.

Eh a lot of high school kids (assuming that you and your friend are in high school) have the mind set "FCK READING" and that they will not learn unless they have to.

Oh and, how are you doing flamingchainsaws? I'm the guy you talked to on AIM the other night

[FlamingChainsaws]

That's cool/I'm doing fine/how are you doing/if I remember correctly you use my torrent blog?

In further high school political thinkers news, I am starting a campaign to convince foo's to think.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Instead of trying to "convince" her, lead by example. Make sure yr politics translate into the way you relate to people - learn to be supportive, and find ways to help her empower herself. Chances are that there are things she's passionate about - what are they? Do you have ways to help her become further engaged on those issues? And, for that matter, is it possible that she has just as much to offer you as vice-versa?
Get yr own shit together, and yr friends will ask you for guidance if they want/need it.

[PostAnarchy]

Simple: talk about the issues that matter and argue the socialist perspective.

[Poison]

I think I actually got my mom to be open-minded and interested in Communism via the very excellent documentary "The Corporation". I highly suggest it or the book.