ChrisPurcell's refinement:
BrianTempleton?'s poesis:
For example, when promoting wikis to people, there was a time when we used to foist them onto people trumpeting the obvious superiority of wikis. That means nothing to a person who is perfectly happy where they are. If the discussion with them pays no consideration for their own personal lives, and the rationale for choosing is not related to some problems they are actually facing, the probability they will choose to change is very low. Only EarlyAdopter?s and possibly zealots might go for it.
Another example is when Linux advocates try to switch someone from Windows. It's like driving up in your Ford to someone in their Toyota and asking them why they are driving a Toyota? Or why not drive a Ford? Well, because they already have a car. Arguing some philosophical reason like "Linux has fewer bugs" (is that even true?), means nothing unless the person is experiencing too much pain from bugs on Windows.
When the person has to buy a new car, on the other hand, that would be a good time to try making a sale. Cold calling, also known as telemarketing, is not such a great way to make a sale.
Ideology, superiority, philosophy means nothing to nobody. Making a life better means something to that person. Form PersonalRelationships with people. Understand life from their point of view. Then the sale is easy.
Within the technical world, this is a disease of EarlyAdopter?s mostly, which is why wiki zealotry and Linux zealotry are not such huge problems any longer, but watch out for the next Big Thing. DefendAgainstIdeology.
Because after all, when a telemarketer calls you, the appropriate thing to do is hang up.