You attract more bees with honey than with vinegar.

Yesterday morning, on our way to Sunday Mass, Mrs. Jake and I drove past the local community college.

I noticed the electronic announcement board in front of the college had a message from the state department of health services regarding vaccines. The message was simple: "It's your choice."

This message, I thought, was a refreshing change from the message about vaccines we've spent the last year hearing from talking heads in both the mainstream and alternative media. That message, distilled and paraphrased: "You're on my side, or you're an ignorant asshole."

I reflected with Mrs. Jake for a few moments on an old adage: "You attract more bees with honey than with vinegar."

We live in times when those on both sides of nearly any contentious issue resort to spraying those on the other side with vinegar, and they then wonder why the other side digs in. As a society, we seem to be in grave danger of losing the subtle art of persuasion.

Folks, if you're trying to bring someone to your side with vinegar, and it isn't working, try honey. The results may surprise you.