Don't Write Negatively

The disclaimer: I see from my previous blog post titles that I've not practiced what I'm about to preach. However, this blog post title is intended to be ironic.

You’ve heard the old adage: “Think positive.” (To which I might reply, ‘think positively,’ but that’s another blog.)

I’d like to extend that adage to “Write positively.”

Don’t is not a very powerful word. Case in point: When you’re teetering on the edge of a tall building (you know, as you do every week) and someone says, “Don’t look down,” what’s the first thing you do?

Another case in point: When you say to someone, “don’t laugh,” don’t they immediately and always let out a small chuckle before you’ve even told them that which is not supposed to be funny?

I learned in a child psychology class that you must give a child positive instructions rather than telling him what not to do. The child hears what you don’t want him to focus on and can’t shake it from his head. It’s suggestive. You say, “Don’t throw mashed potatoes at your sister,” and he hears “throw mashed potatoes at your sister.” Then you’re shocked to find him minutes later, throwing mashed potatoes at his sister.

The same goes for adults. You must plant the suggestion of what you want a person to do, not what you don’t want them to do.

In advertising, “Don’t wait!” becomes “Hurry in!”

In billing, “Please do not send cash” becomes “Please enclose a check or credit card information.”

Perhaps you can get away with including something negative if it’s followed by a positive: “Don’t let these poor animals suffer any longer. Please donate.” In this case, you’re implanting the negative in the audience’s mind in order to arouse feelings of sympathy and philanthropy, and then you’re giving them a way to counteract the negative and feel better.

What do you think? Do you respond as well to statements that use “don’t” as you do to positive statements?