Ammo library
Planting Other People's Excuses
Severity 2Word choice & deliveryStep 2Step 7Step 9
Activist tells the bystander what excuses or reasons other people use (most people think it's expensive, worry about friends reacting, etc.), planting ideas they may not have had.
The give pair
Gives ammo
Most people don't go vegan because they think it's expensive, or they're worried how their friends might react. Does any of that apply to you?
Gives nothing
Is there anything stopping you from living vegan now?
The round they fire back
Adopts the excuse you just handed them; deflects with social pressure or cost you introduced for them.
How to fix it
Do not tell them what excuses other people use. You plant ideas they may not have had. Keep it on them only: what is stopping you, not what stops most people.
Coaching notes
- Real problem: saying most people think it's expensive, or don't want to because friends might react, gives them an exit they didn't bring up.
- Let them surface their own objections. Do not preload excuses from other conversations.
- Also avoid what others think or do in general, same principle.
Related lessons
- Don't plant other people's excuses Working the flowchart
- Don't mention what others do The activist's mindset