> Asking people to have less, experience less, and do less isn’t an argument that can ever win.
Yes and no. I agree that if your approach is to ask people to do this, you aren't going to win the argument.
But instead you can reframe the argument.
Does that $70,000 truck that you have to make payments on while you do back-breaking or soul-crushing work to afford it really make you happy? Do you really get use out of that or are people scamming you with clever marketing?
Do you really enjoy glamping or do you just like the idea and you sit around on your phone posting pictures about how much you like it while not really doing much. Are you honest with yourself?
Etc.
> Cramped trains will rarely win politically but electric cars that go fast and look cool do win.
We don't even have trains, let alone cramped trains. This one is funny though because everyone "loves how walkable XYZ area is" but then they get their mind completely wiped once they leave not realizing they can live like that too if they demanded it or if we had a good market mechanic in place that allows for choice.
For some bewildering reason we don't build more of the most loved homes and neighborhoods and transit experience like we do for every single other product.
The people that I know with those $70K trucks seem to really enjoy them and get a lot of use out of them. Especially for towing trailers they work really well.
If they didn't buy those trucks I don't think they would work any less. They would just spend the money on something else.
You can justify anything. I need a new iPhone every year. Why? Direct purpose and status symbol. I also need my home heated and cooled to exactly 70 degrees each year because it helps me be more comfortable while working from home. I also need to drive a new electric truck for common errands like going to the store to buy a bottle of wine from California or my asparagus from Argentina. All justifiable investments in my eyes.
Why would someone argue with you about what they like? You’re assuming that they are dumb and that you are smart. That’s a bad way to approach persuading people.
Yes and no. I agree that if your approach is to ask people to do this, you aren't going to win the argument.
But instead you can reframe the argument.
Does that $70,000 truck that you have to make payments on while you do back-breaking or soul-crushing work to afford it really make you happy? Do you really get use out of that or are people scamming you with clever marketing?
Do you really enjoy glamping or do you just like the idea and you sit around on your phone posting pictures about how much you like it while not really doing much. Are you honest with yourself?
Etc.
> Cramped trains will rarely win politically but electric cars that go fast and look cool do win.
We don't even have trains, let alone cramped trains. This one is funny though because everyone "loves how walkable XYZ area is" but then they get their mind completely wiped once they leave not realizing they can live like that too if they demanded it or if we had a good market mechanic in place that allows for choice.
For some bewildering reason we don't build more of the most loved homes and neighborhoods and transit experience like we do for every single other product.