Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz
Solomon,
I am trying to understand your viewpoint. Can you explain the difference you see in the two messages addressing volunteers...
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Ok, lemme give it a shot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz
GuamFIRST staffs our events with people who volunteer often and energetically.
DO volunteer often and energetically.
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The first one comes off as informative, insightful, and helpful. People like help. People ask for help.
The second one comes off as authoritarian and demanding. Do this!!! People instinctively don't like being told what to do. That's why so many people are driven to start their own companies, or change jobs; because their boss is a micromanager/control-freak, and/or so they are their own boss (fun fact: the consumer is your boss).
The last few words might be the same, but it's how they start the sentence that gets you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz
In your personal communications (including social media), maintain an awareness of how
your voice may be heard by your audience.
When not at an event, be aware that everything you do reflects
on FIRST. [u]This is especially true with social media – Tweets, posts, or blogs can easily cause
issues for volunteers. Stay positive, think about how your post will be perceived,
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Again, the first one is a simple and SHORT reminder; be aware. Even in bullet-point form to keep it short! Because it's not the main point.
The second one is nestled into a paragraph, and uses the phrases "
everything you do reflects on FIRST", and "
Tweets, posts, or blogs can easily cause issues for volunteers". Jeez, no pressure or anything. Why would you even say that second part!?!?!
As you may have noticed from my other posts, there are MUCH worse passages that highlight the subtle differences between the two documents. You might be thinking, "That's not fair. This is so subtle." Just think how subtle the human brain works; the difference between charming and creepy can LITERALLY be a pause or two between words.
-Mother was a salesman for many decades (from cars, to kitchen remodeling, to plumbing, to radio advertising, to mortgages), so maybe I have an inherited ability to notice undertones that might
#trigger! other people.