I think it’s useful to separate the request to act from the argument itself. Feeling like you’d have to change your life if you allow yourself to believe there’s a problem will activate motivated reasoning to preserve your current beliefs.
But feeling hopeless about the future, or even helpless, will do the same thing. So I’d alter this to include something along the lines of “there are things everyone can do to help, like asking for good public policies”.
I think I did include an optimistic statement to head off hopelessness in both of those short treatments, but helplessness is important too.
Good point.
I think it’s useful to separate the request to act from the argument itself. Feeling like you’d have to change your life if you allow yourself to believe there’s a problem will activate motivated reasoning to preserve your current beliefs.
But feeling hopeless about the future, or even helpless, will do the same thing. So I’d alter this to include something along the lines of “there are things everyone can do to help, like asking for good public policies”.
I think I did include an optimistic statement to head off hopelessness in both of those short treatments, but helplessness is important too.