Technique: Appeal to the lowest common denominator. You will make no friends flouting your infinite knowledge and ivy-league vocabulary. People will simply shake their heads in silent acknowledgement and go about their business sticking to what they know best…ie: Whatever they believed before you came along. Keep it simple. People are not stupid, but they are also not necessarily versed in the technical cause and effect of various current events nor should they be. Treat people Respectfully as laypersons and never, ever, ever talk down to your audience. When explaining why things are the way they are (or should be) use plenty of analogies and anecdotes and very little technical explanation (of, for ex, supply and demand, global warming, the need to balance civil liberties with national security, etc.)