“That doesn’t work” is a self-fulfilling prophecy

Be it boycotting, rallying, protesting (sit-ins, marches, etc.), calling representatives, signing petitions and letters, or simply talking to fellow human beings about issues you consider important, there’s a pervasive idea that these measures are ineffective for one reason or another. And to the extent that this is true, it’s only true because people believe it. In believing it, they are discouraged from taking part in such actions and thus weaken their effect.

There are countless examples, in the past and now, of group actions influencing or even reversing the efforts of bad actors. And ultimately, as I have discussed, all human achievements are the result of combined effort.

One area in which we need constant vigilance is to quash any notions that an action will automatically fail, and discourage pessimism as a reaction to ongoing attempts.