When you want someone with an opposing viewpoint to hear you out, what's the best way to get their attention?

True. I guess there's something to be said for knowing when to walk away.

Yes. This.

Indeed.

:-)

Don't get me wrong.  Over the years I've tilted at more than my share of windmills, but I've discovered there's no future in it.  It may be distressing to watch other people or society in general commit slow motion self destruct, but there's nothing I can do to stop it.  Even if I were sitting on the cure, getting people to accept it is an impossible task.   

Google 'Cassandra.'

A nice picture and a video and start the opening sentice with  I DISAGREE 

That'll  usually do it for me. 

What's a sentice?

~

I no longer try. I express my views. Period. If another is interested, he or she will listen. If not, no amount of jabbering from me is going to change their mind.

It sounds like crawling but you first have to almost agree with everything they say to get them on board then go slowly through it again and raise doubts in their mind about their viewpoints ... Then you can start to introduce alternatives to their thinking

I can do what so ever I want and I won't succeed as long as they aren't the least open and looking for my opinion in a sincere way. What I cannot do, if I want to have any chance though, is to tell them they are "idiots" or show I'm not interested in being open and looking for their opinion in a sincere way. It takes two to have a dialogue, and that will be the primary essence if I want to succeed to have someone hear me out.

Attention? Hmm. I don't believe in attention making. It will have to come through dialogue. I can't put out an ad to have them come and join me for a dialogue. I can ask interesting and deep questions that opens up for various ways of looking at a topic to have a true dialogue around a subject. That will be about it. At least what I think.

Good point. I know I've heard that somewhere else before. Humans are very visual. Bring on the graphs!

Just kidding. ;)