E is for Endorsement

Acceptance is a funny thing. While we often are content to have no one in direct defiance of what we do, more often we seek the endorsement of our closest friends and family. Occasionally, we seek the endorsement of those who know us in passing or not at all. There is no salary in this endorsement, at least not of a monetary nature.

If we are not talking about being paid millions to wear a piece of clothing or drive a particular car, what sort of endorsement are we seeking? Let’s consult Merriam Webster. When we want someone to endorse our behavior, we want them:

2. a : to approve openly <endorse an idea>; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely

The level of endorsement is up to interpretation. We are willing to accept No news is good news. If there is no one openly, publicly and definitely disapproving or reprimanding us, we consider it tacit endorsement.

Everyone

While we seek the approval of Mate, BFF, Parent, Sibling and Quaint first, we do seek the endorsement of everyone. No? Would you like to avoid any of the following situations?

  • Disapproving look of someone observing your appearance on the street
  • Vocal opposition to a proposed idea, improvement or recommendation
  • Noting of minuscule imperfection of a satisfactory product
  • Pointing out disparities between your beliefs and reality
  • Skepticism of your authority

Oh, we do seek endorsement from everyone.

Engineered

In the truest sense, endorsement is about public acknowledgement; however, getting someone to commit to a public endorsement is difficult on the best days. People are not moved to openly stand behind anyone else, especially if the behavior was not originally their idea or a core of their belief system. They are willing to stand in the background, out of others’ fields of vision, and cheer.

Getting them to shake the pompoms when you stand before your detractors or audience is far less likely. They are willing to risk reputation and ridicule of their own actions, but not those of anyone else.

In the face of others’ fear of guilt by association, we will take the backroom cheerleaders as endorsers, engineering endorsements.

Excruciating

More contrived than the engineered endorsement is the acceptance of tacit endorsement. Although it is false, we will accept it in lieu of no endorsement at all. How is it false?

Many people operate under the principle:

Therefore, their failure to (object to, ridicule, dissociate themselves from) our actions and statements does not mean they approve of either. The absence of a negative does not indicate a positive. Likewise, neutrality is not the same as endorsement.

Be careful when gauging the amount of support you have for an idea or action. Just because no one came to you to tell you it was wrong does not mean there are not people who do think it is wrong.

Equal

How often have you been the cheerleader from the safety of a private conversation where no one would ever find out you told someone you supported them? Did you do it for a friend or family member who is a true endorser?

Even though we seek the endorsement of those around us, we rarely afford them reciprocity. Like those who engineer endorsement of us, we respond in kind. It is the way we show support for one another without compromising our (reputations, belief systems, ideals). This is a place where equality is truly less authentic.

Ethical

In order to ethically endorse, we have to be convicted the stance or action is defensible and congruent with our characters. That happens to be a tall order because we are individuals with varied beliefs. Engineered and excruciating endorsements are strictly unethical. They require a level of dishonesty.

  • Exaggerating support to endorsement seeker
  • Omission of support when around dissidents
  • Claiming support when none has been offered

Were we honest with ourselves and those seeking our endorsement we would come right out and say…

End

Just because someone does not endorse your idea or current behavior does not mean they disapprove of you as a person. It is perfectly possible to love people, but hate the things they do or say. Lack of endorsement is not the only reflection of your character. Your endorsement is far more important.

Do you have someone you love, but hate some of the things they do or say? Can you stop engineering endorsement?

If you tweet or +1 this post, please use the hashtag #AtoZChallenge!


© Red Dwyer 2012
Reblogging of this or any other post on The M3 Blog is expressly forbidden.
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55 Comments

  1. Can't remember who I am

     /  April 6, 2012

    Well now, Just not sure how I should comment or if I should. Went to a seminar ions ago that taught you the Idea of Daring to be different. Somehow, with all that has happened in my life, I’m keeping that attitude. The only one now I really have to please is me, of course I don’t do that but it sounds good. I care for my family and others that I am close to. My wish. I still tend to beDare to be Different no matter what people say and believe you me they have had and still say a lot.

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 6, 2012

      Then truly, Cherie, it is your own endorsement on which you need to focus. You have the DTBD part down pat. As long as the being different is pleasing to you, endorse it. Therein, is the solution. xxx

      Reply
  2. “Just because someone does not endorse your idea or current behavior does not mean they disapprove of you as a person. It is perfectly possible to love people, but hate the things they do or say. Lack of endorsement is not the only reflection of your character. Your endorsement is far more important.” Good stuff. I wish everyone could realize this!
    Angela recently posted..Confessions of an Enabler by Angela Masters YoungMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Yes, we can not love everything said by everyone around us. In fact, if we did like everything about someone I fear that we would be so similar we would be bored of one another! Besides, debating different views can make for interesting conversation 🙂
    Christy Birmingham recently posted..Friendship Is A WorldMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 7, 2012

      Absolutely. What fun would there be in being all cookie cutter?? Argument was my fave psych class in college. No wonder I passed it with an A 😉 Good to see you today, Christy!

      Reply
  4. Barb

     /  April 8, 2012

    Yes, I get emails when you post. I don’t remember resubscribing when you switched over, but maybe I did.

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 8, 2012

      Excellent! If you didn’t you are the only one still getting them from WP. 😉 If you resubscribed, you got one today with three posts in it called “Once Daily Digest”.

      Reply
  5. Red you are such an over-achiever! Seven uses of the letter E to make your point. I feel shame, heh.

    As for your point: Being a misanthrope causes me to heed the credo ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say then Shut The fuck Up.’
    Of course having a blog allows me to eliminate the direct contact that these thoughts may have on the person/place/institution in question.
    I fear conflict enough, and am neurotically over-sensitive enough, to simply avoid people, attempt to find the good or not then simply bite my tongue.

    You’re right all in all of course: I may disapprove of my daughter’s actions… but I will always love her.
    Fine and thoughtful post!
    Miss R recently posted..I is for InappropriateMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 17, 2012

      I am looking forward to catching up on your letters! I have a wide misanthropic streak, but have never once attempted to master the STFU. I have zero compunction telling someone precisely how the cow ate the cabbage and the smell of the ensuing fart at the south end. Regardless, I tend to do it without calculable malice…as in the subtlety of the sarcasm is genuinely lethal (see Glitter E. Yaynus post).

      Reply
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