Incumbent Facts May Be Stubborn, but Community Reality Bites

[Commentary] Let's do a little analysis of incumbent PR strategy. First, there's the ADD defense (attention deficit disorder). I make an argument, you shift the discussion to a point not relevant to mine and make your case with gusto. Then drop in a few data points that sound impressive. Repeat as needed. I've experienced this in several public debates I had recently. The thinking must be that the audience/readership is too slow to realize you dodged the topic, or they'll realize it but get sucked into the new conversation and never manage to get back to the original point. The challenge for everyone fighting for better broadband in the U.S. is that the constant repetition of facts can get people to buy into positions counter to their best interests if we're not vigilant and diligent. Our task in countering the incumbent PR machine is not separating fact from fiction, but separating reality from stated fact and the context of its use.