How to Convince People to Our Opinion? On the Sidelines of Women’s Protests Over New Abortion Ban in Poland
For several days, I have been reading countless texts, statements, and posts that comment on the Constitutional Tribunal actions in Poland and women’s strikes. Just for the record, we are protesting against the new law, which makes abortion practically impossible, even in the case of severe and irreversible fetus damages.
The easiest way is to lose yourself and lock yourself in your bubble, so without exaggerated willingness and pleasure, I also read the opinions and comments of those who support the Constitutional Tribunal verdict and are against the strikes. I observe fierce arguments on social media, under articles, and I don’t think that gets us anywhere. Why?
OPENNESS TO DISCUSSION
Only then can someone be persuaded to something if the other side is open to discussion. Is there such a space in this dispute? From my perspective, yes, there are certainly some hesitating people who don’t have an opinion (they usually keep quiet). The commentators instead have already established views and will stick to them. Ironically, the easiest way you can convince someone is through attitude, example, and not arguments. Unfortunately, some people have to experience something to understand. Too bad.
CORE OF DISPUTE, DATA, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE
Only then can the discussion be fruitful if the two parties agree on the core of the dispute, rely on the same data, have similar knowledge or experience on a given topic. As long as the percentages from false sources about the abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome in Poland are used in the debate, there will be no room for discussion. As long as there is a misunderstanding that severe and irreversible fetus damages are not lovely little babies who will be born naturally and then function independently, there will be no room for discussion, too.
ABORTION WAS, IS, AND WILL BE
It doesn’t help that the rulers live in the illusion that it magically disappears if they ban something. For example, it’s fortunate that no one in this country smokes marijuana or uses hemp oils (also with THC) for medicinal purposes, right? Maybe it is worth considering how to educate and respond to social needs and changes instead of prohibiting?
WHAT REMAINS?
We can do what we think is right. It is worth talking to our loved ones because we have the most significant influence on them. Besides, I guess that there is no need to use dialectics in the comments, but simply to tell our government to #wypierdalać, which means #fuckoff. We’ve had enough.
