Daily Prompt – Cousin It

We all have that one eccentric relative who always says and does the strangest things. In your family, who’s that person, and what is it that earned him/her that reputation?

My mind immediately went to my uncle C. We refer to him as ‘The Phantom’.

Daily Prompt – One Way Street

Congrats! You’re the owner of a new time machine. The catch? It comes in two models, each traveling one way only: the past OR the future. Which do you choose, and why?

I think the only reason I would want to go back in time is if I was able to re-live my life, but make a few changes in order for myself to end up having a slightly different life.

Jan 29: Influencing Others

Are you good at influencing other people?

I think that I can certainly have my moments when I’m talking to others and trying to persuade them or convince them of something. But I find that it’s much easier for me to try and persuade them than it is for them to try and persuade me. I’m simply too stubborn and would prefer to have my own opinion first, and then have others provide their opinions as well as a means of support.

I think it just depends on what exactly it is I’m trying to influence others of. I find that if it’s something that they might not necessarily know much (if anything about) then I can sometimes explain the situation to them so that they are aware… but I can just as easily skew that information to lead them to make the decision themselves, even though it’s the decision that I’d already made, I just lead them in that particular direction and let them think that they got there all on their own.

Other situations, however, aren’t that simple or straightforward. Sometimes it can actually be quite difficult to try and influence others. In some circumstances it can sometimes be almost impossible to even get others to see your point of view because they’re so focused on their point of view, they won’t even consider anything else. Nothing else exists. To an extent it reminds of the old adage ‘if you’re not with me, then you’re against me’. To normal people, this seems completely ridiculous because we see the world in shades of grey (just not 50 of them!), whereas they are only seeing things in black or white; yes or no.

Those people, I find, there’s simply no talking to; no reasoning with them.