Advocate Respectfully

There is a new way to raise awareness and increase support for an issue. Advocates are using their internet presence to share the causes they care about. This can be done by tweeting, posting on Facebook, joining a website or blog, or by any number of other methods.

Although this approach has allowed more people than ever before to get involved in one cause over another, it comes with risks. People who use these tools must advocate respectfully in order not to lose supporters themselves or drive other advocates away from the cause they support.

This blog post will give some helpful tips that allow advocates everywhere to speak up with positive hearts and good intentions instead of vitriol and hatefulness.

Stay Positive

Advocates should support their cause, not the people against the cause. If you want to share your opinion about an organization or a person or a policy, do it with facts, not personal attacks.

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Some advocates make the mistake of going on offense when they are sharing their message. Although it is sometimes helpful to take a stand when there is good information to back up that stand, cutting down other advocates only makes everybody lose ground toward the common goal.

Be Enthusiastic and Upbeat in Your Tone and Style of Writing/Speaking

Remember that reaching out to others requires some effort on your part as well. Be enthusiastic over the potential of change and be enthusiastic about the potential of people. If you have a message that needs to be spoken into existence, then let it be told with positive energy and passion.

Don't use language that is negative or makes fun of your opponents. (The exception is as when you are quoting someone else.) Don't use language that attacks other individuals, like "stupid" or "screwed." Using this kind of language only hurts your cause, rather than helping it.

If you do want to criticize something, critique it in a fashion that is not personal or unkind; try to stick to direct statements and avoid ad hominem arguments. An ad hominem argument is an attack on the person making a point, rather than directly addressing the point.

For example, if you are trying to convince people to use less energy and consume fewer resources, say something like this: "Using fewer resources is important for staying environmentally friendly." Don't say something like this: "You don't want to waste your money on frivolous things like X, Y, and Z because they are destroying our environment. Save your money so that you can invest in clean technology so that you can ultimately save the world."

In addition to being respectful in how you express yourself with others and their opinions, be sure to be respectful of their time as well. If you are going to spend a lot of time writing about something, be sure to write well and make it worth the readers' time.

Use Common and Appropriate Words

When you are sharing a message on social media, try not to use big long words that nobody would know. Instead, keep your message short and sweet so that people can understand what you're saying. If you want your message to resonate with others, be sure it is easy for them to understand.

Use the right tone as well; if what you want to say is funny or scandalous, then don't say it when making an important point or trying to persuade people with good will.

2. Take an Interest in Other Causes and People

The world is made a better place by the people who care about it. If you can, take some time to work toward other causes that are important to you. By doing so, you will start to notice what works and what doesn't when promoting your own cause.

3. Listen Well and Pay Attention

People often want to learn more about the causes they support; they also want to share their opinions. Make sure that if someone has something significant to say, you listen with an open mind before responding with your own opinions and thoughts.

4. Encourage Others

Rather than knocking other advocates down, try to lift them up. Encourage them to share their message and give them a little acknowledgement when they do. Support and encourage others who are sharing their messages — you'll make all of the causes you care about better for it!

5. Don't Tolerate Bullying

Bullying is unacceptable in any setting, but it often occurs on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook. When you see other advocates being cruel or disrespectful on social media, speak up by telling the person who is bullying another advocate that what they are doing is unacceptable.

6. Don't Accept Bullying in Any Form

The world is a better place when we respect one another and treat others as we want to be treated. The best way to encourage this kind of behavior is to refuse to accept it. Don't argue with others about their opinion or question the way that they are being treated by another advocate. Instead, let them know you won't condone bullying and that you will not participate in it in any way, shape or form.

7. Keep at It!

Sometimes advocating can be hard work. Be sure to stay supportive and upbeat even during the tough times. Stay positive and keep at it!

8. Say a Prayer for Others

All advocates have their own personal struggles and fears hidden behind their message; we aren't always happy about the work that we do. When you get stressed out or feel discouraged, ask God to help you stay positive because your efforts may mean the world to people who need you.

Conclusion

The important thing is not necessarily to see what no one else sees, but rather what everyone else sees, and not see it…. – T.S. Eliot

Advocacy is so important because it has the power to change the world for the better. When you dedicate your efforts toward making our world a better place, even if you can't see all of it, you can make the difference.

Featured by:

Koinone II, Voice of Hope Radio, Callin' Out The Truth Radio, Peace Innuendo Radio, Baha Odeh Tribute Show and many more.

The following is an updated compilation of common phrases that people use when they advocate and ways to avoid these phrases.

Use of these phrases may alienate people who do not share the same opinion as you, and reinforce division amongst advocates. These phrases also have little or no effect on the targeted individual.

In addition to the above, there are some phrases that some advocates use that really don't help their cause and make it more difficult for others to understand what they're trying to say.

The following is an updated compilation of common reasons why someone doesn't believe in an issue and how to avoid these reasons.

When you make your point, it is very important that you are able to find a way to answer all of your critics without making them upset or angry.

Conclusion

With the increasing popularity of social media, advocacies are able to spread messages and gain support for their causes quickly. However, this newfound power can be more than some advocates are ready for. When deciding whether or not to join a cause, make sure that you know what you're getting into and that you are prepared for it.

Advocacy is a big part of what makes the world go 'round; it is through advocacy that we can all make the world a better place.