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How do you make an idea portable?

by wes-exp 14y ago

raganwald 14y ago
I honestly don’t know! Here are some of the things I’ve tried. First, I’ve tried writing parables. Some of these seem very portable, but they also often annoy the people in the bubble who already embrace the idea and want more practical insights or advice. Nevertheless, parables have a way of side-stepping the logical critic in people’s brains and appealing directly to their emotions. Sometimes that’s a big win. Second, I’ve tried to come up with sound bites. I’m not sure this is an effective example, but off the top of my head: “Discrimination doesn’t scale.” Sound bites are the refined sugar of ideas for good and for bad. Third, I’ve tried to write without demonizing the people I disagree with. I tried to portray “Ted” as well-meanininged but a little too caffeinated here: http://raganwald.posterous.com/bob-and-carol-and-ted-and-alice http://raganwald.posterous.com/bob-and-carol-and-ted-and-ali.... But I think I blew it here: http://raganwald.posterous.com/a-position-of-the-highest-moral-principle http://raganwald.posterous.com/a-position-of-the-highest-mor.... The truth is, I have no system or method for generating portable ideas, just some observations that many portable ideas have certain characteristics in common: They have emotional impact (tip 1), they are easy to remember (tip 2), and they avoid being divisive (point 3). YMMV.
- stcredzero 14y ago
  parables have a way of side-stepping the logical critic in people’s brains and appealing directly to their emotions. Sometimes that’s a big win. Second, I’ve tried to come up with sound bites...Sound bites are the refined sugar of ideas for good and for bad. As you note, those are equally applicable to ideas with and without substance. The truth is, I have no system or method for generating portable ideas, just some observations that many portable ideas have certain characteristics in common: They have emotional impact (tip 1), they are easy to remember (tip 2), and they avoid being divisive (point 3). I'd posit that looking for ways to popularize substantive ideas will produce portable ones.
dm1222e 14y ago
State it in terms that make it accessible to another group? Not universally portable, but improved a bit.
mcguire 14y ago
Put a handle on it. Also, make sure it fits in the overhead bins.
- mcguire 14y ago
  Less metaphorically, make sure your audience has some way to connect to it, for example emotionally. Also, do not try to pack too much into your message; a smaller, single idea will go farther than large, complex manifesto. Oh, and don't be too abstract on Hacker News; they won't get it.

How do you make an idea portable?

by wes-exp 14y ago

How do you make an idea portable?

I honestly don’t know! Here are some of the things I’ve tried. First, I’ve tried writing parables. Some of these seem very portable, but they also often annoy the people in the bubble who already embrace the idea and want more practical insights or advice. Nevertheless, parables have a way of side-stepping the logical critic in people’s brains and appealing directly to their emotions. Sometimes that’s a big win. Second, I’ve tried to come up with sound bites. I’m not sure this is an effective example, but off the top of my head: “Discrimination doesn’t scale.” Sound bites are the refined sugar of ideas for good and for bad. Third, I’ve tried to write without demonizing the people I disagree with. I tried to portray “Ted” as well-meanininged but a little too caffeinated here: http://raganwald.posterous.com/bob-and-carol-and-ted-and-alice http://raganwald.posterous.com/bob-and-carol-and-ted-and-ali.... But I think I blew it here: http://raganwald.posterous.com/a-position-of-the-highest-moral-principle http://raganwald.posterous.com/a-position-of-the-highest-mor.... The truth is, I have no system or method for generating portable ideas, just some observations that many portable ideas have certain characteristics in common: They have emotional impact (tip 1), they are easy to remember (tip 2), and they avoid being divisive (point 3). YMMV.

stcredzero 14y ago
parables have a way of side-stepping the logical critic in people’s brains and appealing directly to their emotions. Sometimes that’s a big win. Second, I’ve tried to come up with sound bites...Sound bites are the refined sugar of ideas for good and for bad. As you note, those are equally applicable to ideas with and without substance. The truth is, I have no system or method for generating portable ideas, just some observations that many portable ideas have certain characteristics in common: They have emotional impact (tip 1), they are easy to remember (tip 2), and they avoid being divisive (point 3). I'd posit that looking for ways to popularize substantive ideas will produce portable ones.

dm1222e 14y ago

State it in terms that make it accessible to another group? Not universally portable, but improved a bit.

mcguire 14y ago

Put a handle on it. Also, make sure it fits in the overhead bins.

mcguire 14y ago
Less metaphorically, make sure your audience has some way to connect to it, for example emotionally. Also, do not try to pack too much into your message; a smaller, single idea will go farther than large, complex manifesto. Oh, and don't be too abstract on Hacker News; they won't get it.