FAQs

• What is Rockridge Nation and who is it for?
• Can you suggest starting points to learn about framing?
• Are there guidelines for participating in Rockridge Nation?
• Why can't I promote the candidates and political party that I support at Rockridge Nation? How can progressives use this website if we can't do that?
• How can I make a Tip of the Hat or Wag of the Finger nomination without violating the policy against electioneering?
• What is the "Tag Cloud"?
• How can I assign tags when I write something?
• When I write something on the website, what should I do if there isn't an appropriate tag for it?
• How can I include a web link in what I write?
• How can I contact the Rockridge Institute?
• I'm having trouble finding an article. How can I search for it?

What is Rockridge Nation and who is it for?

Rockridge Nation is a community organized by the Rockridge Institute to empower progressives to work together and develop successful ways to communicate our values. Together, our voices can shift the public debate and restore an America that serves the common good. If you would like to cooperate with your fellow progressives to find better ways to frame the public debate, welcome!

The Rockridge Institute reserves the right to limit participation to those who share this goal, and to remove content that is inconsistent with the purpose of this site. If you have questions about what is appropriate, please review the questions and answers below. If your question is not answered here, you may wish to contact us.

Can you suggest starting points to learn about framing?

Here are three resources that we recommend:

1. Simple Framing is an article by George Lakoff that provides a brief introduction to framing and its uses in politics.
2. Thinking Points is a book by George Lakoff and the Rockridge Institute that serves as a progressive's handbook for communicating our values and vision.
3. Thinking Points Discussions conducted by the Rockridge Institute's Joe Brewer provide easy to follow presentations of key concepts related to framing and answers to questions about the book Thinking Points.

Are there guidelines for participating in Rockridge Nation?

1. Focus on the use of language to explore values, concepts, and strategic initiatives for the progressive movement.
2. Build upon things that can be done to improve the political environment of public discourse.
3. Be part of the community. We are all here to help each other learn how to affect progressive change in the communities we return to upon leaving the Rockridge Nation website.
4. Look for new ways to express your values while sharing insights with your partners in this community.

As you participate, please keep in mind that the Rockridge Nation community exists for us to discuss and advance our progressive values and vision. While we often discuss topics in the news, we are interested in the language used to communicate them and the ideas that the language connects to. We welcome questions and discussions on the site that focus on framing, progressive values, and strategic initiatives. We do not expect you to be an expert on framing. At the same time, to create a healthy and productive community, we must recognize that we are here to find solutions together, not for each of us to insist that he or she has all the answers.

Please do not post content that is not appropriate to the purpose of the Rockridge Nation. Inappropriate content includes, but is not limited to:

• advocacy for or against specific political parties or candidates
• general discussions of topics in the news without an interest in language and related concepts, values, or strategic initiatives
• self-promotion or the promotion of websites, companies, services, products, religions, etc.
• disparagement of other members
• denial of the possibility for progressive change
• repeated posting of the same content
• posting of content in violation of copyright or other laws

If you are not sure whether something is appropriate, please email info@rockridgeinstitute.org before posting.

Why can't I promote the candidates and political party that I support at Rockridge Nation? How can progressives use this website if we can't do that?

Because of our tax status and mission, the Rockridge Institute cannot engage in electioneering or serve as a forum for others to do so. However, we are committed to helping our fellow progressives to become effective advocates for our values.

If you would like to work with other progressives to discuss how to communicate our vision persuasively and reframe the public debate, Rockridge Nation is for you. The ideas and approaches that you discuss here may help you and other progressives across the country to be more effective in changing the terms of the discussion. We hope and expect that what you learn and practice here will help you become more effective in the advocacy that you do elsewhere.

How can I make a Tip of the Hat or Wag of the Finger nomination without violating the policy against electioneering?

Focus on the language or concepts that the politician or commentator expressed, not the person. If a progressive leader makes a speech that you think undermines progressives, nominate it for a Wag of the Finger and explain why the speech was harmful. Don't make it into a personal attack.

Similarly, if a progressive politician comes up with a great way to reframe an issue, discuss what is good about it through a Tip of the Hat nomination. Just focus on the specific remarks and ideas, not the politician.

When I write something on the website, what should I do if there isn't an appropriate tag for it?

Please use the "Other" tag in that case. Later, an administrator will look at what you wrote and create a new tag, if appropriate, and assign it to what you wrote.

What is the "Tag Cloud"?

The tag cloud shows the tags (topics) that people have used to describe what they have written on Rockridge Nation. The size of the words indicates how many articles have been written about them. Clicking on a tag will show you what people have written about it.

How can I assign tags when I write something?

Toward the bottom of the submission form, you will find the heading "Tags" with a box of tags under it on the left, an empty box on the right, and two arrows between the two boxes. First, select the tag or tags you want to assign. Then, while they are highlighted, click on the arrow (like this: ">>") pointing to the empty box on the right. Clicking on the arrow should move your tags into the box on the right. You should then be able to save, and the tags should appear when you view your piece.

How can I include a web link in what I write?

You can include a hyperlink by simply typing the full URL starting with http:// and making sure that you do not have a comma, period, or other characters at the end that do not belong. For example, these ways of including a link will work:

• The article at http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/lakoff/occupation explains why Iraq should be framed as an occupation.
• You can read about election integrity at:
• http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/electionintegrity

Do not attempt to include a link in these ways:

• A link, such as www.example.org, will not work because it is missing the http:// prefix and it has a comma at the end.
  
• A period at the end is a problem for this link: http://www.example.com.
• Parentheses will prevent the following link (http://www.example.net) from working.
  

How can I contact the Rockridge Institute?

You may view the Contact Rockridge page of the Rockridge Institute website for ways to contact us.

I'm having trouble finding an article. How can I search for it?

When you search using the search box at the top right corner of each page, the results that you receive will be limited to content on the Rockridge Nation site. It is possible that the article that you are trying to find or other articles on a topic that interests you may be available on the Rockridge Institute website. A link to perform your search on the Rockridge Institute site will appear above your search results when you search Rockridge Nation.