#the funny part of honesty being the highest value is that it's only like that bc he likes being ~brutally~ honest

[klaeus]

likable person test.

tagged: @doesoft. tagging: @salvatoraes, @malka-lisitsa, @demonwebs, @dawnflavord and anyone else who'd like to <3

[iudae]

personal

PERSONALITY TRAITS

confident, charming, funny, fair, generous, creative, intelligent, ambitious

insensitive, arrogant, manipulative, conceited, irritable, oblivious, superficial, self-centered

MBTI

enfj – the protagonist

ALIGNMENT

lawful neutral

TEMPERAMENT

sanguine

STRENGTHS

charm, diligence, tactical thinking, humour

WEAKNESSES

arrogance, tactlessness, irritability, indiscretion

LIKES

roger enjoys being the centre of attention, which he believes is well deserved, expensive things of high quality, although he does not amass them, and being part of exclusive things. he loves a challenge and gets a kick out of proving himself to others. he prefers a strong sense of community, and seeks to foster it in all of his teams.

DISLIKES

he doesn't tolerate laziness and brown-nosing and people who take every advantage to feed off of others' success.

SKILLS + TALENTS

besides being an outstanding flyer and chaser, of course, roger is adept at charms and spells as well as a rather passable duelist.

HOBBIES + INTERESTS

next to of course sports and quidditch, he enjoys parties and clubbing and he likes meeting new people, whether it be an interesting acquaintance or a flirt. he also has an interest in culture, though, he enjoys reading fiction, non-fiction and poetry, listens to all kinds of music and even now and again frequents galleries, museums or performances.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

roger would consider himself heteroflexible, only based on experience. in truth, he is quite more than flexible, falling on the bisexual spectrum with only a slight preference for women — it is his own internalized notions of masculinity and perhaps also the effect he has on women themselves that makes him choose to only initiate interactions that are beyond platonic with people of the opposite gender. subconsciously, he purposefully mischaracterizes the attraction he feels for men and has therefore not yet noticed it.

romantically, roger is attracted to what intrigues him, no matter the person's gender, although he is quite oblivious to his own feelings and has never actually been in love.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS

in his early teenage years, roger discovered serial dating as an exciting pastime. he's jumped from relationship to relationship, something he has taken serious in that moment but never as a whole. he does believe in love as a concept, but he doesn't actively look for it; maybe because he doesn't know how. with his newfound professional success and the fame that comes with it, he has found it too easy and too tempting to only maintain casual relationships accessible whenever he feels like it but never a binding responsibility.

SOCIAL SPHERE

the ravenclaw quickly expanded his circles beyond childhood friends when he came to hogwarts. his naturally open and charming disposition attracted many friends and acquaintances throughout all houses, and throughout the years a loyal core has crystalised.

REPUTATION + POPULARITY

especially within his own house, roger is looked up to, earning a special standing due to his position as team captain. he has also the ( arguably unrivaled ) reputation of being quite the ladies' man, yet many girls still seek his favour.

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENTS

a happy boy turned into a confident youth into a respectable adult. while roger always retained his humourous spirits and appreciation of the pleasures in life, he has learned to assume responsibility. this does not make him more reliable in relationships, but in academic and professional settings it serves him well.

VALUES + MORALS

some of roger's core values are fairness and honesty. he calls things as he sees them and expects others to do the same. he has his own set of morals that he bases on equality and justice.

success and recognition are important to him, but based only on professionalism and diligence. knowledge and culture for him are some of the staples of society and should be fostered and preserved above all else. at the forefront of his motivations stand family, community and team work.

BIASES

he was raised to be an open and tolerant person, and actively tries not to treat people from stigmatised groups, such as werewolves, any differently, but of course he too has some inherent prejudice, souvenirs from the biased society he has grown up in, for example regarding purebloods, muggles, goblins, werewolves etc., or he believes in stereotypes about for example women, gryffindors and divination. he carries no malintent and tries to treat people only based on his personal impressions of them, which is no excuse, but he is not infallible. on instances he is ever corrected or told off, he intends to remember them for the future. he comes from a place of privilege where he never had to pay much mind to discrimination, but he tries to learn.

HUMOR

roger is indeed quite the humorous person, who loves to laugh and make others laugh in return. he especially enjoys making fun of his friends, and they know how to take it and treat him in the same manner. oftentimes his replies are dry or a bit mocking, but it's all in good fun.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION

despite growing up with two very political and engaged parents, roger is not the most political person. of course he remains true to his values, disagrees with purebloodmania and was on the side of the resistance during the war, but he seldomly takes a public stance. this is mainly due to his position in the public eye, and the fact that he is afraid he's not as informed as he needs to be. after all, he is only an athlete, not a politician or activist.

GOALS + PLANS

growing up, roger's main goal was always to do what makes him happy, and that was playing quidditch. the wish to become a professional first materialised when he joined the house team and saw how his interest and talent could be fostered, and how well he worked in a team. but he didn't stop striving when he was accepted into a professional team, and then his favourite team. he still works hard to make the best out of his career and his assets, in order to attain the highest achievements possible in that sport. other than that, he can imagine one day settling down and having a family of his own, even though the thought of that sort of commitment is still off-putting and sort of scary.

[a-motivation-to-study]

Books to Read in 2019

This past year I finished reading MAYBE 2 books. How incredibly disappointing is that? In high school I read ALL THE TIME, and I have a whole wall covered in books, yet I have barely read! I’m really going to force myself to read more this next year. I know for a FACT that my semester next year will hinder my goal, but I’m hoping to follow this plan as closely as I can (although I am darn positive that I probably won’t be able to finish all of these). Most of these books I have selected relate to other personal goals I hope to achieve. The boldened titles are the books I feel are most important in my personal growth (and thus the books I will read first). I’m also hoping my love for reading can be reignited. I know a lot of us can lose the habit of reading, especially with busy college schedules, so I’ve added the descriptions of the books (from the back or from the amazon descriptions) I hope to read in case any of you would also like to read more!

Productivity Books

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People People, author Stephen          R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principal-centered approach for         solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living  with       fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity- principles that give us the      security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. 

2. Getting Things Done by David Allen 

In today’s world, yesterday’s methods just don’t work. Veteran coach and        management consultant David Allen shares his his breakthrough methods for stress-free performance that he has introcued to tens of thousands of people  across the country. Aleen’s premis is simple: our productivity is directly   proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve effective results and unleash our creative potential. From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Dones can transform the way you work an live, showing you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down. 

Meditation and Buddhist Books (from Wisdom Publications mostly)

3. Zen Vows for Daily Life by Robert Aitken

Zen Vows for Daily Life is a collection of gathas, vows in verse form for daily practice, similar to prayers or affirmations for use at home, at work, and in the meditation hall itself. Reciting these poetic vows can help us be fully present in each moment and each activity of our lives. These gathas serve as gentle reminders to return again and again to our highest aspirations, with acceptance, joy, and compassion—for ourselves and all beings. Zen Vows for Daily Life will be a steadfast companion in keeping the reader inspired and committed on their spiritual path.

4. A Heart Full of Peace by Joseph Goldstein

Love, compassion, and peace—these words are at the heart of all spiritual endeavors. Although we intuitively resonate with their meaning and value, for most of us, the challenge is how to embody what we know: how to transform these words into a vibrant, living practice. In these times of conflict and uncertainty, this transformation is far more than an abstract ideal; it is an urgent necessity. Peace in the world begins with us. This wonderfully appealing offering from one the most trusted elders of Buddhism in the West is a warm and engaging exploration of the ways we can cultivate and manifest peace as wise and skillful action in the world.

This charming book is illuminated throughout with lively, joyous, and sometimes even funny citations from a host of contemporary and ancient sources—from the poetry of W.S. Merwin and Galway Kinnell to the haiku of Issa and the great poet-monk Ryokan, from the luminous aspirations of Saint Francis of Assisi to the sage advice of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama.

5. Open Mind by B. Allan Wallace 

Lerab Lingpa (1856–1926), also known as Tertön Sogyal, was one of the great Dzogchen (Great Perfection) masters of the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries and a close confidant and guru of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. This volume contains translations by B. Alan Wallace of two works that are representative of the lineage of this great “treasure revealer,” or tertön. This volume will be of great interest for all those interested in the theory and practice of the Great Perfection and the way it relates to the wisdom teachings of Tsongkhapa and others in the new translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

6. Interconnected by Ogyen Tinley Dorje

Plucked from a humble nomad family to become the leader of one of Tibet’s oldest Buddhist lineages, the young Seventeenth Karmapa draws on timeless values to create an urgent ethic for today’s global community. The Karmapa shows us how gaining emotional awareness of our connectedness can fundamentally reshape the human race. He then guides us to action, showing step by step how we can change the way we use the earth’s resources and can continue to better our society. In clear language, the Karmapa draws connections between such seemingly far-flung issues as consumer culture, loneliness, animal protection, and self-reliance. In the process, he helps us move beyond theory to practical and positive social and ethical change.

7. I Wanna Be Well by Miguel Chen

A punk rocker’s guide to grow, learn, and appreciate the present moment—in short, to live a life that doesn’t totally suck.

8. Discovering Your Soul Signature by Panache Desai

Your soul signature is your spiritual DNA - it is who you are at your core, the most authentic part of you, and your singular contribution to this world. And yet, we reject our authentic selvs. We allow our soul sigature to become blocked by any number of emotional obstacles that life throws in ou path: anger, fear, guilt, shame, sadness, despair. Any or all of these feelings overtake us and create a density, a heaviness that doesn’t permit us to embrace who we truly are, deep inside. We are energetic beings, Panache Desai reminds us, and emotions are energy in motion. When we are blocked we feel unworthy, less than, unloved, incomplete. 

In Discovering Your Soul Signature, Panache Desai invites us on a 33-day path of meditations-- shot passages to be read at morning, noon, and night that are designed to dismantle the emotional burden that holds us back and open us up to changing our lives. Through this distilled, poetic, practical, and inspiring course, he invites us to live a life of authenticity, to rediscover purpose and passion, and to believe from our soul in the possibility of all things.

9. As Man Thinketh by James Allen 

This little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much-written upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that -

"They themselves are makers of themselves"       by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness.

Religious Books 

10. The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball

In The Miracle of Forgiveness, President Spencer W Kimball gives a penetrating explanation of repentance and forgiveness and clarifies their implications for Church members. His in-depth approach shows that the need for forgiveness is universal; portrays the various facets of repentance, and emphasizes some of the more serious errors, particularly sexual ones, which afflict both modern society and Church members. Most important, he illuminates his message with the brightness of hope that even those who have gone grievously astray may find the way back to peace and security. Never before has any book brought this vital and moving subject into so sharp a focus. This classic book is a major work of substance and power.

Science Books

11. God’s Equation by Amir D. Aczel

In God’s Equation, Amir Aczel tells the story of what lies between these events: the history of modern physics and the development of the sciene of cosmology, the study of the nature of the universe. 

Other Books

12. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

In Anthony Burgess's nightmare vision of the future, where criminals take over after dark, the story is told by the central character, Alex, who talks in a brutal invented slang that brilliantly renders his and his friends' social pathology. A Clockwork Orange is a frightening fable about good and evil, and the meaning of human freedom. When the state undertakes to reform Alex—to "redeem" him—the novel asks, "At what cost?"

13. Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

In 1845, Thoreau moved to a cabin that he built with his own hands along the shores of Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Shedding the trivial ties that he felt bound much of humanity, Thoreau reaped from the land both physically and mentally, and pursued truth in the quiet of nature. In Walden, he explains how separating oneself from the world of men can truly awaken the sleeping self. Thoreau holds fast to the notion that you have not truly existed until you adopt such a lifestyle—and only then can you reenter society, as an enlightened being.   These simple but profound musings—as well as “Civil Disobedience,” his protest against the government’s interference with civil liberty—have inspired many to embrace his philosophy of individualism and love of nature. More than a century and a half later, his message is more timely than ever.

14. The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian

In the Art of Worldly Wisdom Baltasar Gracian gives us pertinent and pithy advice on friendship, leadership, and success. Think of it as Machiavelli with a soul. This book is for those who wish to have an ambitious plan for success without compromising their integrity or losing their way. Audacious and captivating!

15. For One More Day by Mitch Albom

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that lasts a lifetime and and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

[thisdaynews]

Without restructuring, Igbo or S’West presidency can’t save Nigeria — Olanipekun

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/without-restructuring-igbo-or-swest-presidency-cant-save-nigeria-olanipekun/

Without restructuring, Igbo or S’West presidency can’t save Nigeria — Olanipekun

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and popular legal practitioner, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), shares his thoughts on the clamours for a new constitution and how the country can overcome its challenges

As a foremost lawyer, what do you make of the clamour for the restructuring of the country?

I didn’t just start advocating for the restructuring of Nigeria yesterday; it’s been a long time that I have been calling for the overhauling, replacement and restructuring of the 1999 Constitution. When I was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, I led a team of lawyers to the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and among the things we suggested to him stoically and patriotically was the overhauling of the constitution. We also volunteered to assist him, but he didn’t like it. I told him in clear terms that this constitution would not take us anywhere. One thing I have noticed is that at all levels, every person who comes to power and is enjoying the benefits of the present situation as brought about by the constitution want the status quo to remain. You also see a lot of people who have not been consistent. If you love your nation, you have to be consistent about your prognosis and views. When I talk about my nation, I talk as an elder who enjoyed Nigeria when it was good, when education was virtually free and there was liberty and security. At my age and as a lawyer, I should be able to say the truth to power. Honestly, I feel bad about this country. Nigeria has a lot of fiends and a few friends and it’s sad that everybody wants to take advantage of this country.

You said a few months ago that Nigeria needs a new constitution but some people feel we can make do with amendments because they feel it’s near impossible to convene a constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution, how do you think we can go about it?

Lord Denning said years ago in Macfoy vs UAC that you cannot put something on nothing, and Nigeria’s Supreme Court re-echoed it with approval through two beautiful jurists, Kayode Eso JSC and another jurist. May their souls continue to rest in peace. True to that statement, you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. A constitution should be de facto and de jure, meaning in fact and in actuality; in practice and in theory; in honesty and in sincerity. I’m familiar with the social media to an extent and I listened to Chief John Nwodo, the Minister of Information during the regime of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), who foisted this constitution on us. He said the constitution was drafted by about 47 persons, out of which 40 were military personnel. Nwodo has been my friend since our Student Union days in the early 70s. He was at the University of Ibadan while I was at the University of Lagos. He’s not given to frivolities and I can beat my chest for him to a reasonable degree. He said even when Obasanjo was to be sworn in, there was no clean copy of the constitution. Is that the way it is done, for 47 persons to prepare the constitution that governs a diverse nation like Nigeria? Elders of this country must stand up to be counted; do we just want to live by the convenience of today and not think of tomorrow; what happens to our children and grandchildren? It is not a question of who is in power, it started since the time of Obasanjo. It’s sad that some people are not even ready for intellectual discourse and that is why once they have a view different from yours, you become an enemy. Why are we treating Nigeria like a bastard? We are being unfair, unjust, careless and ungodly about this country.

Politicians have shifted the discourse to 2023 already, do you agree with those who feel that is misplaced?

Politicians can be very funny and arrogant about the future. It’s only God who owns 2023, but people are already talking about 2023, which is still two years away. By and large, if you want to be elected into any office in 2023, don’t you want to govern people that would be alive? Then, you need a working document. We still have two years three months to May 2023 and that is enough time to do something. Failure to do that, if an Igbo man or a Yoruba man win, we will witness the same thing we are experiencing under President (Muhammadu) Buhari. Then, where are we going? Is that a way to build a country? Many of us were busy trying to out-speak one another during the last election in the United States, whereas we don’t have a system or institutions here.

The reservations most people have with the constitution starts from the Preamble, what is your take on that?

I will take you through some constitutions of the world and we will compare. First, the preamble in our constitution says ‘We the people of Nigeria…’ Who are the ‘we’? That is fake and false and it’s not something we should be proud of. Let’s start with the constitution of Albania of 1998. The preamble reads, ‘We the people of Albania, proud and aware of our history, with responsibility for the future, and with faith in God and/or other universal values, with determination to build a social and democratic state based on the rule of law, and to guarantee the fundamental human rights and freedoms, with a spirit of religious coexistence and tolerance….’ My goodness! Why can’t we have something like this? Look at the religious coexistence part? They simply took cognisance of their past, why are we denying ours? That was 1998, a year before Abdulsalami imposed ours on us. God has been kind to give Nigeria good, intelligent and focused people who would think of the nation and not themselves, but what have we made of that? The Albanian preamble continues, ‘…with a pledge to protect human dignity and personhood, as well as for the prosperity of the whole nation, for peace, well-being, culture and social solidarity, with the centuries-old aspiration of the Albanian people for national identity and unity, with a deep conviction that justice, peace, harmony and cooperation between nations are among the highest values of humanity, we establish this constitution…’ This is the way it is done. Even God invited people, as stated in Isaiah 1:18 that come and let us reason together’. Who are you to say I don’t have a right to contribute to the present and future of my country?

Which other country can we learn from?

Let’s talk about Algeria, another country that didn’t run away from its history. The preamble of the 1989 constitution reads, ‘The Algerian people are a free people and decided to remain so… having fought and still fighting for the freedom and democracy, the Algerian people by this constitution decided to build constitutional institutions, based on the persuasion of the Algerian people…’ They mentioned constitutional institutions; do we have institutions in Nigeria? No. I dare say the only enduring institution in Nigeria today is the Presidency, not as characterised by the incumbent, but as it has been since 1999. PUNCH reported how the Ooni of Ife and the governors of Ondo (Rotimi Akeredolu) and Oyo (Seyi Makinde) states met with the President over insecurity. My brother, Makinde, a man in whom I’m well pleased, needed to run to Abuja to demand for Mobile Police units, in a federal republic? I’m not blaming him; I’m blaming the warped, undulating, slippery, undetermined, mercurial system and organogram of the nation. There is nothing wrong with going to see your President, but where the constitution is fair and not selfish, why can’t Oyo State be able to have its own police system?

You also mentioned Argentina, how does theirs compare to ours?

Let’s look at the preamble of Argentina’s 1853 constitution, ‘We the representatives of the people of the people of the Argentine Nation, assembled in General Constituent Congress by the will and election of the provinces which compose it, in fulfilment of pre-existing pacts, with the object of constituting the national union, ensuring justice, preserving domestic peace, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves, to our posterity, and to all men in the world who wish to dwell on Argentine soil: invoking the protection of God, source of all reason and justice, do ordain, decree and establish this Constitution for the Argentine Nation.’ Can you compare them? The preamble should reflect your history and aspirations as a people, but what do we have here? Let’s look at the preamble of the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, which reads, ‘We the representatives of the Brazilian people, convened in the National Constituent Assembly to institute a democratic state for the purpose of ensuring the exercise of social and individual rights, liberty, security, well-being, development, equality and justice as supreme values of a fraternal, pluralist and unprejudiced society, founded on social harmony and committed, in the internal and international orders, to the peaceful settlement of disputes, promulgate, under the protection of God, this Constitution of The Federative Republic of Brazil’. Can you see the clear difference?

You also mentioned Egypt and Ethiopia, both of which are African countries.

Egypt is one of the oldest civilisation as stated in the Bible. The preamble of their 1980 constitution reads, ‘We, the people of Egypt, who have been toiling on this glorious land since the dawn of history and civilization; we, the people working in Egypt’s villages, fields, cities, factories, centres of education, industry and in any field of work; we, the people who believe in our spiritual and immortal heritage, and who are confident in our profound faith, and cherish the honour of man and of humanity at large…..; our people have passed through successive experiences, meantime offering rich experiences on both the national and international level and being guided by them, which ultimately took shape in the basic documentations of the July 23 revolution, led by the alliance of the working forces of our struggling people.’ You see how rich that is, but here we are behaving like the ostrich, trying to bury our past? Let’s look at Ethiopia, another great empire rooted in civilisation and history. The Ethiopian Constitution of 1995 has this preamble, ‘We the nations, nationalities and people of Ethiopia…’ Nigeria also has a lot of nations, nationalities and peoples, like the Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Hausa, Kanuri, Tivs, Ijaws, etc. Look at how their constitution recognises these but ours was silent on that.

[jacksonmainellis17-blog]

*Deliberative Democracy*

In this entry, the focus will be on answering the critical question: In what ways does/doesn’t the deliberative process revealed in this artifact fulfill the criteria of deliberative democracy (or, at least the first two components) and how could the process be improved by better integrating the (first two) components of deliberative democracy?

The artifact being evaluating is a segment from the September 2015, Republican presidential debate, where, then-candidates Donald Trump and Jeb Bush clashed over a question about donors buying off politicians. (Jeb Bush will be referred to as Jeb in this paper to draw distinction between him and the two prior President Bushes). Jeb turns the question about bought off politicians into an attack on Trump, claiming to have stopped him from getting casinos set up in Florida. This attack from Jeb provokes a full argument between him and Trump, turning a serious political issue into an insult competition. Despite this, Trump actually uses two of deliberative democracy’s four main components to bolster his position. Moral basis and accessible reasons are the first two components of deliberative democracy and Trump fulfills their criteria when he proclaims that only the people of the United States can control him and that he cannot be bought off by rich donors. Trump fulfills the first two components of deliberative democracy’s criteria to a small degree, but could improve on them by explaining how he considers the citizens of the country to be autonomous and smart people, in addition to giving more detailed reasons for justifying his potential presidency.

The lead up into the 2016 U.S. presidential election was fraught with political struggle as the second term of President Obama was winding to a close. The White House was going to have a new occupant soon and both the Democrats and Republicans were looking to lock in their chosen candidate. On the Democrat side Hillary Clinton faced off with surprising rival Bernie Sanders. The Republicans on the other hand were in a free-for-all between many potential candidates, including front runners: Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, and the surprising Donald Trump. Due to Jeb appearing as the front runner early in the race, Trump targeted him relentlessly, disparaging him at every debate. The artifact being studied here is from the height of their exchanges and neither hold back during it. Trump was pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable to say on a political stage at the time and Jeb caught the worst of his attacks.

The concept of deliberative democracy from Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson’s Why Deliberative Democracy? will be applied here to the rhetoric Donald Trump used during this artifact. Gutmann and Thompson’s book defines deliberative democracy as: “a form of government in which free and equal citizens (and their representatives), justify decisions in a process in which they give one another reasons that are mutually acceptable and generally accessible, with the aim of reaching conclusions that are binding in the present on all citizens but open to challenge in the future.” (Gutmann and Thompson 7). This definition combines the four components to fully define deliberative democracy, but only the first two will be focused on in this paper. The first component as prior mentioned in the definition, is equality and freedom for all citizens. “Persons should be treated not merely as objects of legislation, as passive subjects to be ruled, but as autonomous agents who take part in the governance of their own society.” (Gutmann and Thompson 3). The second component is accessibility for all. “The reasons given in this process should be accessible to all the citizens to whom they are addressed.” (Gutmann and Thompson 4). These components are meant to make sure deliberation in government can reach the people it means to govern and treat them as respected equals.

Inside the artifact under analysis, most of the video is Trump and Jeb arguing and insulting one another, but at the 1:47 mark Trump makes a clear and powerful rhetorical point that utilizes the first two components of deliberative democracy. Trump exclaims: “They have a lot of control over our politicians... but I say this, I am not accepting any money from anybody, no one has control of me other than the people of this country, I’m gonna do the right thing.” (CNN). Trump is establishing here that he knows how much money from rich donors can control politicians and he is stating that he will never bow down to any benefactor seeking to control him. To prove his claim, Trump funded his entire campaign through his own wealth, accepting no donations from anybody like he said. Then Trump says how only the people of America will be able to control him and that it is the right thing to do. Over the course of his few sentences here, Trump’s rhetoric has made him out to be an incorruptible candidate that puts the will of the people as his highest and only commander. This is all said in the childishly simple way that Trump typically talks in, which anyone can understand, all while on live television through CNN. Not only has Trump established here that he highly respects the will of the American people, he also has made his message simple and accessible to as much of the population (that he intends to govern), as he can. These are clear cut examples of components one and two inside Trump’s rhetoric. They are there to reach out to all of America’s people in an attempt to win their trust through deliberative democratic values. To increase the potency of his rhetoric even more, Trump could have made the usage of components one and two even clearer. By addressing the american public directly instead of just the moderator and contrasting his non-donor campaign with Jeb’s, Trump could have sealed an even bigger victory here by fully committing to the components of deliberative democracy. Deliberative democracy sees everyone as free and equal within it and values accessibility of justifications from those seeking to govern, and when a politician harnesses these values like Trump partially did, it can have very effective results, proven by his popularity as a candidate and eventually as the President. Trump’s success was due to many factors, but his rhetoric utilizing these components was definitely a big help to him.

Further proof of the utilization of deliberative democratic ideals by Trump is found in a video from The Guardian, featuring Dr. Jennifer Mercieca. Dr. Mercieca is a political discourse researcher, author, and professor at Texas A&M University who has studied Trump’s rhetoric usage since his first presidential run. “Donald Trump is a rhetorical genius, people don’t like to hear that... especially when he uses the rhetorical figure of paralipsis.” (The Guardian). Paralipsis is when a speaker says that they won’t mention something as they mention it. This makes the speaker come off as brutally honest and funny. When Trump does it, it is indeed disrespectful, as it is usually used by him to disparage someone in order to deflect their questions or attacks away from him. This is clearly not treating people with respect, thus violating the first component of deliberative democracy. However, it does bring Trump down to earth in a way that other politicians can’t seem to to do. His crude honesty makes him more relatable and easier to understand than normal politicians, and although Trump’s paralipsis is usually for deflecting attacks, it also puts him more on the level of the common person. Plenty of average Americans would love the chance to voice their opinions in front of the nation and tell off the rich and powerful, so when Trump does it, and in a funny way on top of it, he creates a people’s hero image for himself. This image of a people’s hero is comparable to an ordinary person standing up for the crowd to politicians who are hard to understand and often think themselves to be above everyone else. Therefore, Dr. Mercieca’s assessment of Trump’s rhetoric does accurately support the claim that he uses component one in a different, but undeniably clever way, to win people over into supporting him.

Works Cited:

Gutmann, A. Thompson, D. (2004). Why Deliberative Democracy? Princeton University Press. Retrieved October 22, 2019.

Mercieca, J. Is Donald Trump a rhetorical genius? – video explainer. The Guardian. April 10, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2019/apr/10/is-donald-trump-a-rhetorical-genius-video-explainer.

Trump, Donald. Trump, Bush square off over casinos in Florida. CNN. September 16, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rDUYZIUUjs.

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9 Surefire Ways to Boost Social Media Following

In our noisy, fast-paced, digital world, social media is the megaphone that amplifies everything.

Good thing, too, because today, brands are struggling to gain followers who respond to their content and offers.

Social media is about human connection.

Think about it, hundreds of thousands of new business start up each month, and nearly all of them are trying to carve their own social presences. And even if only a few are in your specific market, you’ve still got A LOT to compete against.

But having a successful social media strategy can mean the difference between your business succeeding or not.

With a strong social media presence, you’ve got a warm audience that’s primed to click.

So it makes sense that one of the most important parts of your organic social media strategy is building and nurturing your social following (after all, if nobody knows who you are, then nobody will buy from you).

How do you do that? Here are 9 ways to boost your social media following fast—and grow your business while you’re at it.

1. Be Human

I’m not just talking about passing those “I am not a robot” tests.

Social media is about human connection.

It’s where people go when they’re lonely or bored—to find encouragement, inspiration, or a good laugh. Which is why you need a social strategy that’s more human than corporate.

And yes, that’s important even if you’re a B2B business. Businesses are run by people, after all.

Being human is about being real. It’s about being personal. It’s about engaging with your followers as people rather than targets for your next campaign.

Take Red Bull, for example. They don’t talk much about their energy drinks, but they don’t have to. By telling stories about their partner athletes, their message comes across loud and clear: Red Bull will help you do the incredible things other people only dream about.

Check out any of their content, and you’ll see real people having adventures, experiencing life, and overcoming the odds. Their energy drink is almost an after-thought. But dang… don’t you want one?

Red Bull’s YouTube channel motivates, inspires, and entertains by showing you what real people are doing.

TIP: Find creative ways to promote people on your social media accounts—both the people behind your brand and those who use your products.

2. Stop Being So Perfect

Ryan Deiss recently posted on LinkedIn, “Don’t deny your failures, don’t spin them; linger in them and learn from them.”

“Don’t deny your failures, don’t spin them; linger in them and learn from them.” –Ryan Deiss

Most people don’t care if you make a mistake. They do care about how you respond to those mistakes. Do you try to pretend they didn’t happen, or do you own them?

KFC decided to own their mistake. In early 2018, a new delivery provider didn’t do their job, leaving hundreds of UK locations short on their primary offer: chicken. There was nothing they could do to fix the situation and all of the restaurants were forced to shut down for a few days.

Pretty embarrassing, right?

Fans were livid. Competitors were laughing. And some jumped on the opportunity to win over unhappy KFC customers.

In response, KFC ran a full-page ad, apologizing for the mistake by rearranging the letters of their name—probably expressing everyone’s feelings to a tee.

KFC ran a full-page ad in The Sun and Metro acknowledging their mistake.

This is a great example of not being perfect… and running with it. KFC proved they have a sense of humor and a willingness to acknowledge everything they do, the good, bad, and the ugly.

TIP: You will mess up. Royally, at times. When it happens, you will help boost your social media following if you call it as it is: You screwed up. You failed. You’re sorry. Then wipe up the mess and move on—most likely with fans who admire your honesty.

3. Share Better Content

The winners in social media marketing aren’t just scheduling posts and curating information. They’re sharing professional-quality content developed specifically to boost social media.

“Better” content is designed for the channel where it’s posted.

This content is funny, fascinating, and emotionally charged. It leaves people wanting more, not scrolling faster to avoid “branded” content—because let’s be honest, it’s more interesting than the political posts their friends are sharing.

The key is understanding “better.”

“Better” content is designed for the channel where it’s posted. But regardless of the format—text, graphics, or videos—it aims for quality over quantity. It’s personal and unique. It’s social.

Take White House Black Market. Their Facebook page is as simple and stylish as the boutique.

Instead of one picture of this season’s dress, it gives you a montage of the dress, letting you see it in several settings.

And when appropriate, it mentions a current event. As it does here, paying tribute to a fashion icon.

The point is to be intentional—engaging with and entertaining your fans, so they eagerly come back for more.

TIP: To create better content, make sure it “looks” like your brand. Use the highest quality imagery and your best writing. Create campaigns where a series of posts all follow the same theme.

4. Use Live Videos

One of the best things about social media is its immediacy. If something’s on your mind, you can share it right here and now using live videos.

Done right, this can have a huge impact on your brand, attracting new fans and cementing your relationship with existing ones.

Chris Brogan is the perfect example of this. He’s a master of using media and community to attract customers.

Chris’s Facebook Lives range from 53 seconds to 8 minutes, but most are in the 2-minute range. Some are recorded on his phone as he takes out the trash. Others are done at his desk. All of them have profoundly helpful tips for his fans.

TIP: Think of your live videos as a channel within a channel. Create a show with a specific value offer—like 3-minute tips to solve your audience’s biggest problems. The key is to be in-the-moment and share something valuable.

(NOTE: Want to make sure your social media strategy is helping to grow your business? Download our FREE Social Media Scorecards and you can quickly find out what’s working and why, so you can do more of it! Learn more here!)

5. Do Something Worth Talking About

Going viral can be good or bad. United Airlines lost customers when the “United Breaks Guitars” video went live. But if you’re smart and creative, you can get people talking in a way that’s good for your public perception—and hopefully for sales too.

Dove’s Real Beauty campaign is an example of an emotionally charged social media campaign that got people talking about body shame and beauty.

You can also do something silly to get people talking. KFC created a Colonel Sanders cat climber and aired 4 hours of livestreamed cat action.

The key is to understand your audience. You can aim for tears or laughs or both—as long as you’re relevant.

TIP: To create a unique campaign for your brand, think of the #1 expectation people have of your brand. It might be entertainment, beauty, health, profits… or something else entirely. Once you’ve identified that quality, think of a message or event you could put together to get people’s attention. Make sure it’s shareworthy and gets people talking.

And remember, a viral campaign may repel as many people as it attracts. But that’s okay. Your biggest fans will find you. Think Nike’s “Believe in Something” campaign with Colin Kaepernick.

6. Do a Giveaway

Giveaways are an easy way to get people’s attention. You can give away:

Books

The key is to understand your audience.

Trips

Tickets to an event

Product bundles

Gift cards

Coupons

Or anything else you know your fans would love

You can ask for entries to sign up, have your followers share a hashtag, leave a comment on a blog post, or send you an email. Whatever helps you reach your goals and grow your social strategy.

And you don’t even have to have the details figured out before you run with it. This giveaway by Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson is a great example of that:

The key is to design your campaign to achieve a specific business goal.

TIP: Identify your goal for the giveaway, then decide what you can give away. Consider using an app like KingSumo to run the campaign. Then reward entrants for sharing the giveaway so you get as much reach as possible.

7. Offer Free 1-on-1s

Free consultations could qualify as a giveaway, but they’re unique enough to warrant a separate discussion.

While giveaways work well as lead-generation campaigns by bringing new prospects into your funnels, free consultations help you move prospects further along their Customer Journey—often leading to conversions.

(RELATED: The Customer Value Journey Explained in 800 Words or Less)

Consider offering an audit or a chat about your follower’s #1 challenge. You can take unlimited responses (especially if you have a team to do the calls), or you could limit it to the first 20 responders.

Then ask people to do something to qualify—like sharing a post on their social media, promoting your brand with a unique hashtag, or answering a question.

People perceive an expert’s time and advice as more valuable than a high-ticket product. So simply offering your time can build a huge social following fast—especially if you build in a reward for sharing the offer like you would with a classic giveaway.

TIP: Be sure to ask winners to post a “thank you” in social media, telling their followers what they learned from you.

8. Do Q&As

If you’ve got a well-engaged community, consider doing regular Q&A sessions.

You can offer “office hours,” a specific time set aside each week for people to write in their questions. Or you can ask people to submit their questions when you announce an upcoming Q&A session.

Regardless of how you structure them, Q&As can build your community, boost engagement, and quickly establish you as a thought leader.

This live stream with Steady Horse’s Noah Tillman-Young is a good example.

TIP: In addition to asking your fans for their questions, brainstorm your own list. That way, if you don’t have a lot of participation, you can keep the Q&A going between live questions.

 9. Ask Their Opinion

You don’t always have to answer questions to build a strong community. You can ask questions instead.

No one does this better than copywriter Bob Bly. Every day, he shares something he’s seen, read, or thought. Sometimes he shares his own opinion, but he almost always asks for yours.

With this approach, Bob’s Facebook profile has essentially become a daily newsletter. It’s also grown his following faster than average—from zero to 5,000 in just a few short years.

Here’s a typical query:

He may also ask for input, as he does here:

TIP: As you read your emails and browse the web each day, look for interesting factoids that are worth sharing. Then follow up by asking your followers what they think, what their experience has been, or how they’d respond.

Being social isn’t an afterthought. It’s how you attract and engage with your best customers. So it pays to have a strategy for attracting new fans and building engagement.

(NOTE: Want to make sure your social media strategy is helping to grow your business? Download our FREE Social Media Scorecards and you can quickly find out what’s working and why, so you can do more of it! Learn more here!)

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