Wayne02
Member
I'm taking a night class in web authoring/multimedia arguments and could use some input on a couple of sticking points that keep coming up.
I have put together a draft of a simple presentation that deals with the issue of individuals taking responsibility for their own safety. The central theme is that folks need to realize that ultimately they are the ones responsible for their family’s safety etc. The intent of the presentation is to cover a number of self defense/personal safety issues; from simple situational awareness to the use of a firearm should the situation dictate.
I’ve identified the audience into three categories:
1. Those that already understand and accept the concept – preaching to the choir.
2. Those that no matter what I or anyone else say, want absolutely nothing to do with the subject.
3. These are the folks that may be a bit uneasy with the subject, but have a nagging feeling that the argument makes some intuitive sense and that they should be more engaged, but may not know how. These folks may not like the unpleasantness of the topic, but they recognize that the argument has some logic to it, and they are at least willing to listen to the argument and give it some chance to sway them, or not. It is readers in this middle part of the audience spectrum that I am targeting with my argument.
In general terms, I'm trying to keep the argument relatively simple. This is not intended to be a long drawn out, in depth study of the issue per say. Toward that end I've been trying to make use of impactful quotes, images, and links more so than just typing out a bunch of text on the subject matter. I recognize there is a lot of quality information on the web with regards to personal safety/self defense etc. My intent is not to try and cover every single aspect of the subject, but just touch on some of the more impactful highlights of the subject.
I’ve now run this presentation by a number of folks who I believe to be in the target audience and have received surprisingly positive feedback for the most part. I fully expected to be barraged with negative feedback - "violence", "evil guns" etc but it has been nowhere near the level I was expecting. Having said that, there are a couple of things that are occasionally mentioned as maybe areas for improvement.
1. People seem to want to know some of the risk/reward, cost/benefit type trade offs of say, having a firearm in the home. Yes, I know, to us this seems straight forward. Have firearm (and training) = can protect if necessary, don’t have firearm = may be sol. Specifically, they seem to be looking for some statistics or studies which address the issue of having a firearm in the home is more likely to be used for “good” = in a defensive roll VS. Used for “bad” = family member “accidentally” kills other family member in negligent shooting, family member uses firearm to harm other family member etc. Are there any sources or studies out there that address this issue???
2. The presentation makes very liberal use of Oleg Volks excellent images (with his permission of course) as they relate to self-defense with a firearm and certain related issues. I can't express how impactful these images have turned out to be, they really grab peoples attention and stir emotion. They have the ability to create meaning well beyond simple text messages or just images alone with no text included to give context. In fact, I've found that they are often more effective in creating meaning than even video clips.
The problem I’m running into is that the presentation is intended to cover more than just the use of a firearm for personal safety. As mentioned earlier I would like to address "some" of the other aspects in the personal defense arena as well. Just to give people some idea of the options and not just default to the gun as the "only" tool of personal safety.
What happens is the reader sees the thesis and some supporting info, and then the first image or message they see has a firearm in it. This shuts some folks down right then and there, and I loose them when they write off the argument as only a "pro-gun deal". I’m struggling mightily with how (preferably in images, diagrams, quotes) to convey some of the other aspects of personal defense beyond (or prior to) the use of a firearm. Any thoughts or ideas in this regard would be appreciated.
As you can see the presentation is a work in process. I have place holders for most of the things I want to include, and have most of the material for those holders. I am currently going through and adding those items, providing proper credit for Oleg's work, and adding links to the resource page.
Any input (particularly on the two items listed above) would be much appreciated. Go easy on my though, as I am not a "web designer" by any stretch of the imagination. That is plainly evident by how hum drum the site design is, I need to figure out how to dress it up a bit I guess.
Site - http://mysite.verizon.net/res0c272/index.htm
Thanks
Wayne
I have put together a draft of a simple presentation that deals with the issue of individuals taking responsibility for their own safety. The central theme is that folks need to realize that ultimately they are the ones responsible for their family’s safety etc. The intent of the presentation is to cover a number of self defense/personal safety issues; from simple situational awareness to the use of a firearm should the situation dictate.
I’ve identified the audience into three categories:
1. Those that already understand and accept the concept – preaching to the choir.
2. Those that no matter what I or anyone else say, want absolutely nothing to do with the subject.
3. These are the folks that may be a bit uneasy with the subject, but have a nagging feeling that the argument makes some intuitive sense and that they should be more engaged, but may not know how. These folks may not like the unpleasantness of the topic, but they recognize that the argument has some logic to it, and they are at least willing to listen to the argument and give it some chance to sway them, or not. It is readers in this middle part of the audience spectrum that I am targeting with my argument.
In general terms, I'm trying to keep the argument relatively simple. This is not intended to be a long drawn out, in depth study of the issue per say. Toward that end I've been trying to make use of impactful quotes, images, and links more so than just typing out a bunch of text on the subject matter. I recognize there is a lot of quality information on the web with regards to personal safety/self defense etc. My intent is not to try and cover every single aspect of the subject, but just touch on some of the more impactful highlights of the subject.
I’ve now run this presentation by a number of folks who I believe to be in the target audience and have received surprisingly positive feedback for the most part. I fully expected to be barraged with negative feedback - "violence", "evil guns" etc but it has been nowhere near the level I was expecting. Having said that, there are a couple of things that are occasionally mentioned as maybe areas for improvement.
1. People seem to want to know some of the risk/reward, cost/benefit type trade offs of say, having a firearm in the home. Yes, I know, to us this seems straight forward. Have firearm (and training) = can protect if necessary, don’t have firearm = may be sol. Specifically, they seem to be looking for some statistics or studies which address the issue of having a firearm in the home is more likely to be used for “good” = in a defensive roll VS. Used for “bad” = family member “accidentally” kills other family member in negligent shooting, family member uses firearm to harm other family member etc. Are there any sources or studies out there that address this issue???
2. The presentation makes very liberal use of Oleg Volks excellent images (with his permission of course) as they relate to self-defense with a firearm and certain related issues. I can't express how impactful these images have turned out to be, they really grab peoples attention and stir emotion. They have the ability to create meaning well beyond simple text messages or just images alone with no text included to give context. In fact, I've found that they are often more effective in creating meaning than even video clips.
The problem I’m running into is that the presentation is intended to cover more than just the use of a firearm for personal safety. As mentioned earlier I would like to address "some" of the other aspects in the personal defense arena as well. Just to give people some idea of the options and not just default to the gun as the "only" tool of personal safety.
What happens is the reader sees the thesis and some supporting info, and then the first image or message they see has a firearm in it. This shuts some folks down right then and there, and I loose them when they write off the argument as only a "pro-gun deal". I’m struggling mightily with how (preferably in images, diagrams, quotes) to convey some of the other aspects of personal defense beyond (or prior to) the use of a firearm. Any thoughts or ideas in this regard would be appreciated.
As you can see the presentation is a work in process. I have place holders for most of the things I want to include, and have most of the material for those holders. I am currently going through and adding those items, providing proper credit for Oleg's work, and adding links to the resource page.
Any input (particularly on the two items listed above) would be much appreciated. Go easy on my though, as I am not a "web designer" by any stretch of the imagination. That is plainly evident by how hum drum the site design is, I need to figure out how to dress it up a bit I guess.
Site - http://mysite.verizon.net/res0c272/index.htm
Thanks
Wayne
