Comments on: I Hate This Study! http://www.theagitator.net/research/i-hate-this-study/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-hate-this-study Fundraising and advocacy strategies. Trends, tips ... with an edge Thu, 24 May 2012 10:56:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Spokane Austin http://www.theagitator.net/research/i-hate-this-study/comment-page-1/#comment-9831 Spokane Austin Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:03:32 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1258#comment-9831 I tested this out today when doorknocking for a politician. When I mentioned negatives (not personal but policy related) about the opposing candidate two out of three voters all of a sudden became energetically supportive of my candidate (the others remained undecided). Positives about my candidate just don't generate as strong of a reaction for the most part. I agree with the previous post that 100% positive just doesn't create the necessary tension to make a candidate interesting. Thanks for sharing this study. I love this blog! I tested this out today when doorknocking for a politician. When I mentioned negatives (not personal but policy related) about the opposing candidate two out of three voters all of a sudden became energetically supportive of my candidate (the others remained undecided). Positives about my candidate just don’t generate as strong of a reaction for the most part. I agree with the previous post that 100% positive just doesn’t create the necessary tension to make a candidate interesting. Thanks for sharing this study. I love this blog!

]]> By: Walter Roark http://www.theagitator.net/research/i-hate-this-study/comment-page-1/#comment-9775 Walter Roark Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:09:25 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1258#comment-9775 Tom, you really made me think hard about how to compose headlines that attract attention and pull readers into an article. As a social media blogger (for ThePort Network), I generally try to keep the tone positive and upbeat for every post I write. Including the headline, of course. But now I'm thinking perhaps 100% positive ultimately equals boring. At the least, I will look into shaking things up occasionally with a controversial lead-in. Very interesting post (with a touch of psychology + anthropology). Thank you. Tom, you really made me think hard about how to compose headlines that attract attention and pull readers into an article. As a social media blogger (for ThePort Network), I generally try to keep the tone positive and upbeat for every post I write. Including the headline, of course. But now I’m thinking perhaps 100% positive ultimately equals boring. At the least, I will look into shaking things up occasionally with a controversial lead-in. Very interesting post (with a touch of psychology + anthropology). Thank you.

]]> By: Jim http://www.theagitator.net/research/i-hate-this-study/comment-page-1/#comment-9766 Jim Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:28:34 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1258#comment-9766 Tom, you are so right. In the evolution (in a micro sense) of our culture and the way we cause and react to it, fear has become a great generator in our thoughts and life. Fear (while not all fear, hand in the fire) is not a positive force and over time can develop a pervasive negative environment in which the worst is expected. This tends to degrade the human existence making us more sensitive to things that tear down rather than build up. We no longer want to know what is good about a person but rather their foibles. One is comforted by knowing people may be worse than them. The couch is open. Tom, you are so right. In the evolution (in a micro sense) of our culture and the way we cause and react to it, fear has become a great generator in our thoughts and life. Fear (while not all fear, hand in the fire) is not a positive force and over time can develop a pervasive negative environment in which the worst is expected. This tends to degrade the human existence making us more sensitive to things that tear down rather than build up. We no longer want to know what is good about a person but rather their foibles. One is comforted by knowing people may be worse than them. The couch is open.

]]> By: Marie Esposito http://www.theagitator.net/research/i-hate-this-study/comment-page-1/#comment-9762 Marie Esposito Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:54:14 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1258#comment-9762 Tom-- I think I would have opened "I Love This Study" just as quickly, and certainly I would have opened "I Love This Study" before "Your Fundraising Priorities." So your comparison may not be adequate. Also, I have been getting your blog for about 4 months (maybe more) and I tend to agree with your opinions so if you shout "I Hate This Study" I want to know why. My guess is the source of the information may have an impact on the response. Anyway, I love your blog. Best, Marie Esposito Tom–

I think I would have opened “I Love This Study” just as quickly, and certainly I would have opened “I Love This Study” before “Your Fundraising Priorities.” So your comparison may not be adequate. Also, I have been getting your blog for about 4 months (maybe more) and I tend to agree with your opinions so if you shout “I Hate This Study” I want to know why. My guess is the source of the information may have an impact on the response.

Anyway, I love your blog.

Best,

Marie Esposito

]]> By: Joe Jenkins http://www.theagitator.net/research/i-hate-this-study/comment-page-1/#comment-9756 Joe Jenkins Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:20:18 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1258#comment-9756 Hi Tom Fascinating subject that I feel is pretty unexplored - from my experience in the UK charity sector, we don't spend much time addressing underlying psychodynamics (OK, well, not deliberately/proactively anyway!) If we were to consider this particular study further though, I feel we need a better understanding of the relationship between "receiving" and "engaging with" communications. For example, negative language/imagery might be received by individuals more readily and invoke a more pronounced reaction (suitable for acquisition?) but does positive language/imagery perhaps create a greater connection/engagement/longer lasting relationship (so more appropriate for retention?). I recall some work I did a few years ago with an international charity around incentives. We uncovered through analysis that whilst premium incentives uplifted recruitment, they proved ultimately less valuable over time as donors acquired through incentive were significantly less likely to give again (without further incentive, which meant a large number would never payback on recruitment costs). Which leads to the whole volume vs value debate - does that apply here? Joe Jenkins RNIB UK Hi Tom

Fascinating subject that I feel is pretty unexplored – from my experience in the UK charity sector, we don’t spend much time addressing underlying psychodynamics (OK, well, not deliberately/proactively anyway!)

If we were to consider this particular study further though, I feel we need a better understanding of the relationship between “receiving” and “engaging with” communications. For example, negative language/imagery might be received by individuals more readily and invoke a more pronounced reaction (suitable for acquisition?) but does positive language/imagery perhaps create a greater connection/engagement/longer lasting relationship (so more appropriate for retention?).

I recall some work I did a few years ago with an international charity around incentives. We uncovered through analysis that whilst premium incentives uplifted recruitment, they proved ultimately less valuable over time as donors acquired through incentive were significantly less likely to give again (without further incentive, which meant a large number would never payback on recruitment costs). Which leads to the whole volume vs value debate – does that apply here?

Joe Jenkins
RNIB
UK

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