Why manifestos don't usually work: stories may

Dave Pollard makes a convincing case that people are more likely to change their minds about an issue through direct experience, rather than polemics from others, unless that is a deeply trusted source. Better to tell people a story ... as many preachers, but not necessarily politicians, have learned over the years.
That sort of ties in with an observation that's been buzzing around my head for a few days. The Association of Knowledge Network Ezine summarises an online debate with with David Snowden and Steve Barth, and I think this quote stands in its own right.
David added, "My own perspective on knowledge management is based on the statement "We always know more than we can say, and we will always say more than we can write down." ... continuing with, "which leads me to separate KM practice into content (what we can write down), narrative (what we can say) and context (what we can neither say not write down). Narrative and context are more important than content and are social in their nature."
In my work I find that professionals favour reports, newsletters and other written content, while many of the people they are trying to engage (or maybe not) in local communities learn and make up their minds through the narrative of conversations. People are more likely to trust their neighbours than officials, and the official reliance on formal content just makes things worse. Then they'll start complaining about rumours....and produce another newsletter.
See also The new social networking tool - just somewhere to meet

Comments

[Jeremy]

Manifestos may not change people's minds, but they do help focus the writer on the things that matter -- maybe they work better as a sort of guiding mission statement. And although a manifesto won't cause instant changes, a well-written one may lodge itself in a back corner of someone's brain, where it re-emerges while a person is experiencing something similar.

[hugh macleodh]

Manifestos are meant to be written. Reading them is secondary.

The rule for Manifestos is: the minute the ink dries on the paper, rip it up and write another.

And another. And another. Keep yourself in a permanent state of re-invention. Heh.