Ways to make your point.

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[Lani]

Energydrink - my advice would be to look for a way to get your point across in a way that readers can enjoy and empathise with. You're right when you say your blog is pretty in your face. I guess the question to ask is - can you get the point across without being so in people's face, and do you want to get the point across without being so in people's face?

We all want people to read our blogs - let me be frank with you. I went to your blog and it gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. That may be your intention and if it is, you're doing an excellent job. However it isn't likely to make me want to go back for more, add your blog to my rss reader, or make me want to link to your blog. My thought is that you could get your point across without causing that uneasy feeling if you wanted to - I get the sense you don't want to. It does mean people aren't likely to link to your posts, though.

A lot of us probably have things that rile us up, that make us angry and that we want changed.  I agree with Snosk about there being ways to address them without turning off your readers.

I think for me, the biggest factor is making sure, no matter how much criticism is required, the focus of the post is on positive change.  I guess we all rant sometimes, and need to, but in the end, if ranting was all that we did, the posts would have no purpose.

Sometimes there aren't any obvious solutions to the problems we're addressing, but I do think it's possible to write passionately "against" something positively.  And if you want to change someone's opinion, I really think you need to speak to them, on their terms, to shift it.  Screeching doesn't work and you catch more flies with honey. 

What do you guys do to make a strong point without making people want to look the other way?

[swollenpickles]

In terms of making a point, I usually prefer something straight forward like this...

[Lani]

Subtelty not your strong suit, Pickles.

[swollenpickles]

Perhaps not. I guess I don't get subtlety at all.

[Lani]

I often need to be hit over the head with things myself.   

[swollenpickles]

I often need to be hit over the head with things myself.   

Awe, two peas in a pod. :p

[DramaQueen]

I don't really care if people look the other way. The way I figure it is, I write for ME and people can either choose to read or click the X.

Subtlety is not my strong suit either, and once i get my rant on, it's a case of duck or run.

[CraigThomler]

I'm not subtle either, but I have learnt that you have to pick your moments

You cannot change views if you lose credibility and aren't heard - all you get is angry and frustrated.

One trick is to be controversial without being offensive, keep it factual rather than hyperbolic and present both sides, then explain why yours is the right one (leaving it open for others to disagree but planting a seed of doubt)  - note that this is a hard balancing act to master.

Another approach is to use third parties to reinforce your credibility. People are believed more if a trusted third party recommends them. The trick is finding the right third party. Like Google works off trusted links, associate with trusted people - that helps build your credibility by association - provided that you really ARE credible, fakes don't last long under scrutiny!

Cheers,

Craig

[clutterbells]

Pickles

I will be sure to steer clear of hotlinking to your site.

EWWWW.