My Exclusive Interview with THE Devil’s Advocate

“Thanks for joining us today on the Smiling Homeschooler. I’m very excited to have THE one and ONLY Devil’s Advocate with me today. We’re not talking about one of the millions who ‘PLAY’ the devil’s advocate…but THE actual ONE. Let me just say, I’ve heard your words for years, but it’s great to finally be able to meet and talk with you face to face.”

“Thanks for having me.”

“So Mr. Advocate..”

“Please…call me D.A”

“Thank you…So D.A. I’m sure our audience is well acquainted with those PLAYING…YOU. You, or they, have cleverly played the citric while remaining neural…and free of criticism”

“Thank you…but it’s what I do.”

“So tell our audience when you started.”

“…It was a long time ago. The actual Devil of course goes way, way back almost to the beginning…but don’t confuse me with him. Actually, I’m not a bad guy at all. Just an average guy trying to make a living.”

“Since this is a homeschooling audience of moms that will be seeing this how do you approach the whole topic as it concerns homeschooling moms?”

“Actually homeschooling is one of my easiest gigs. There’s so much guilt and insecurities already in place…I just kind of show up, pose a few ‘honest’ questions, and grab some chips on the way out.”

(Laughter)

“What kind of questions do you usually to ask?”

“I find the most effect questions are the obscure example/questions that can’t be easily refuted. Then I exaggerate them just a bit and wala…”

“Can you elaborate?”

“It’s kind of like the ‘can God create a Rock he can’t lift’ scenario. Someone will say, “God can do anything.“ And then I (or one of the DA players) asks, “Can He create a Rock HE can not lift…huh?”. Now a thinking person knows right away that it’s a ridiculous question…but an already insecure person begins to doubt and question what he believes. So in the homeschooling ring…someone will throw out the idea that ‘God made Moms smart enough to teach their own children….”

“Actually, I say that all the time.”

“I know. (laughs) But the way I approach it is to take the extreme example, that applies to almost no one, and say, “Well, what about a person who just does nothing but watches TV all day and never even opens a school book? Are you saying that kind of person should be teaching their children?” See what I’ve done? I’ve taken this extreme example….I mean there’s not a homeschool mom listening right now who is like that…but I’ve planted an insecurity. And an insecurity takes root and gnaws and eats away at the mother’s confidence in her efforts and leaves doubts.“

“You certainly know you’re audience. Do you have any other examples?

“Just the other day I was on Facebook…and side note, I love all social media. It’s taken my game to a whole new level. Anyway I was on Facebook and someone posted, “Sentence diagramming is useless.” Well hey, we all KNOW that. But what I do is slip in a comment like, “Well to understand the Bible you have to be able to diagram those confusing sentences.” I mean, is that true…maybe, kind of yes, but those Bible translators do it for us so we don’t have to. But the seed of doubt has been planted and the next thing you know Moms are saying…“He’s got a good point. Joey you have to diagram sentences.””

“Clever.”

‘Here’s another one: I’m sitting in a homeschool workshop and the speaker says something like, “If your children cry and complain about a certain subject then don’t do that subject. Relationship is more important than a subject.” Right next to me is a mom who has tears in her eye because her son struggles with Algebra.” So I lean over and with concern in my voice say, “Yeah, but colleges won’t let them in if they don’t have algebra.” Boom. with one phrase I send her into a tailspin.”

“So is that true?”

“Of course it’s NOT true…but don’t you see it doesn’t matter if it’s true!! I’m the devil’s advocate. It doesn’t have to be true….and the woman will never fact check me…they just assume since someone said it, it must be true. I’m guessing her son has promised to never homeschool his children and that that mom is on the verge of quitting the whole homeschool thing.”

“I can see you love doing what you do.

“Sorry for getting all ramped up. It’s just so fulfilling to be able to do something you love and see the results of your work every single time.”

“So before I let you go, have there ever been any instances where you weren’t able to influence a homeschool mom.”

(Pause)

“Shawna Kinsley.”

“Pardon?”

“Shawna Kinsley stopped me dead. (far off look in his eyes). It was actually a couple of months ago…so it’s a little fresh (sniffs). I read on Facebook a post from Shawna who posted a picture of her trashed house. I mean it was bad…clothes everywhere, kids half dressed, school books scattered about. You know, like a normal homeschoolers house. I thought it was going to be easy. But I was wrong.
Shawna posted something like “I’m doing relationship not creating a HGTV house.” People commented and agreed with her, but then I swooped in and commented my usual, “But I could never function in such a space. Don’t you think we need to teach them order and organization? After all isn’t God a God of order?”
I thought I was ready for her response…she would counter and then I’d close the argument with, “I just think we’re allowing ourselves and children to be lazy.” But I never got there. My comment had been up for maybe 20 seconds when Shawna wrote back.
“I appreciate your comment,” she said…“but it’s NOT TRUE. Have a great day.”
Have-a-great day. That’s how she concluded….how could I have a GREAT DAY….I had failed. She had beaten me with the TRUTH. (swallows hard).

“I can see that it wasn’t easy for you.”

“No…no, it wasn’t. I started to doubt MY effectiveness. Maybe Shawna was right…maybe homeschoolers were starting to live the truth instead of what the hundred of devil’s advocates said. Honestly it was a rough week for me…but then I spent a day on Facebook and I found my tactics still worked.”

“Wow, I can’t believe our time is up. Thanks for joining us today DA. We’ll have to have you back for another show.”

“Assuming people really care about his show and they let you continue.”

(Pause) “Oh man, you got me! (laughs) You really are good!

(Chuckles) “It’s what I do.”