Piquing Interest

Intentinally getting someone else interested in a topic requiries you to:

1. understand what to say
2. know what questions to ask, and
3. know quite a bit about people you’re talking to

N.3 on this list can and often will be based on assumptions.

Foundations and Bridges

Now, the relevant part for this note is the second point; which questions can we ask that will pique interest?

In other words how can we build a bridge between the “knowledge landscape” that the person we’re talking to is in and this new uncharted territory?

To me these questions often seem to be based on analogies and methaphors, and seek to latch onto to something familiar in order to have something to build on; a foundation or anchor point.

Ways of thinking

Certain (educated, and or philosphically inclined) people may be used to asking certain types of questions and doing certain kinds of (critical) thinking. But not every person is.

I strongly believe that the right questions and experiences can teach people to see things - and themselves; their biases - in a different and new light.

Logic, language and philosophy

• What is a house? - What does this question mean (ask for)?

The natural sciences

• Why does steam from the kettle move upwards?

Philosophy

…

Sociology, Antropology, Feminism and the like

• Why do women (most often) have long hair?
• How come the chests of men are not sexualised in the same manner as for their female counterparts?