[libreplanet-discuss] OT: values vs. behavior [was: New GNU"

[Miles Fidelman]

Ted Smith wrote:
> On Tue, 2012-05-08 at 09:34 -0600, Dave Crossland wrote:
> > On 8 May 2012 06:57, Richard Stallman<rms@gnu.org>  wrote:
> > >     It is behavior that social movements
> > >     seek to change, not blah blah about 'values.'
> > >
> > > I disagree.  We need to change both, as every social movement does.
> > >
> > > We can influence other people's values by
> > >
> > > * Acting in accord with our values, and
> > > * Talking about those values, so people understand why we do what we do.
> > You are right.
> >
> > Action comes first, then blah blah about values, and changing the blah
> > blah IS important - but talk of values is a shadow of the primary
> > thing, the changed behavior.

Ben Franklin had some good words on this topic:

"/We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making 
choices. We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the 
passions we allow ourselves to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves 
to perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system 
we have selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we 
are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever 
make." .... "//Since the foundation of all happiness is thinking 
rightly, and since correct action is dependent on correct opinion, we 
cannot be too careful in choosing the value system we allow to govern 
our thoughts and actions."

/Just saying... change how people think, and you change their behavior.



--
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice, there is.   .... Yogi Berra