Manipulating People

[MisterMatlock]

I saw this article in the Bangkok Post and thought it interesting.

From a letter in the Bangkok Post:

Manipulating people

The techniques of brainwashing, indoctrination, manipulation of people have been studied in great detail since the publication in the year 1895 of La psychologie des foules (''The Crowd: A Study ot the Popular Mind'') by the French scholar Gustave le Bon. These techniques have been used successfully by dictators, politicians of all colours, religious leaders, warmongers, fan clubs and a large variety of interest groups, who either fight for a cause or against something that does not suit their agenda.

Whoever watches the nonstop performance of Thailand's small, Bangkok-based opposition movement PAD on the television channel ASTV with an inquisitive mind, will find all the elements which make the successful manipulation of people possible.

There is a muted audience whose only function is to noisily applaud everything that is said on the stage, whether it makes sense or not, is right or wrong. The same slogans are repeated again and again, so as to make them appear the unquestionable, absolute truth. Questions are not asked, discussions do not take place. Those up there on the stage, the leaders, do not want to be questioned; questions lead to divisions.

The further scenario: once a crowd has been sufficiently ''conditioned'', the individual ceases to exist. He or she has been swallowed up by a dehumanised monster, the mob. And then, those up there, the manipulators, have an obedient tool which they can use for whatever purpose they choose.

The effect of brainwashing is that people who become part of a mob, are not aware that they are being used and will do whatever they are told to do, even things they would never do as single individuals. They have lost control. In fact, individuals don't count, they can even be sacrificed and will then be called martyrs. What counts in a mob are numbers, not people.

MANFRED LIEBIG Mukdahan

[PeeMarc]

The trouble is, those who should be reading this don't tend to read, or want to know.... or even try to think.

I've said it before: we often forget that half of any population is of below average intelligence. But it is usually this half who make the most noise and who are the easiest to manipulate. True for any country.

[MisterMatlock]

The trouble is, those who should be reading this don't tend to read, or want to know.... or even try to think.

I've said it before: we often forget that half of any population is of below average intelligence. But it is usually this half who make the most noise and who are the easiest to manipulate. True for any country.

Totally agree. I didn't post this article because of the PAD. I just thought it interesting, as a former history student, to see techniques which have been in existence for centuries still used today to VERY good effect. I thought about the women and children up on the "front lines" while the PAD "leaders" sat safely at the back of the pack CLAIMING that they "don't want violence". Then I thought about the third X-Men movie (as rubbish as it was). The battle scene where Magneto holds back one of his main henchmen and says "In chess, the pawns go first." as the foot soldiers get chewed to pieces. Substitute Sondhi L for Magneto and you realize how it's not a stretch at all...

[Karnie]

The effect of brainwashing is that people who become part of a mob, are not aware that they are being used and will do whatever they are told to do, even things they would never do as single individuals. They have lost control. In fact, individuals don't count, they can even be sacrificed and will then be called martyrs. What counts in a mob are numbers, not people.

it's so true!

[beej]

Perfect letter.

[Loburt]

The letter is just as applicable to those wearing red shirts, and watching NBT and other free TV stations.

ASTV has an audience because what is being broadcast on Channels 3 through 11 is just as full of falsehoods and just as designed to manipulate.

It is so patently propagandistic that people are willing to believe the direct opposite.

If there were a free television station broadcasting news with the overriding goal of being fair in its reporting, presentation and analysis, then ASTV would not be as successful as it is.

Unfortunately, the government does not permit that to exist, and so ASTV thrives.

[Karnie]

The letter is just as applicable to those wearing red shirts, and watching NBT and other free TV stations.

fortunately, i rarely watch thai tv and not much a fan of wearing either red or yellow shirts.....

[MisterMatlock]

The letter is just as applicable to those wearing red shirts, and watching NBT and other free TV stations.

ASTV has an audience because what is being broadcast on Channels 3 through 11 is just as full of falsehoods and just as designed to manipulate.

It is so patently propagandistic that people are willing to believe the direct opposite.

If there were a free television station broadcasting news with the overriding goal of being fair in its reporting, presentation and analysis, then ASTV would not be as successful as it is.

Unfortunately, the government does not permit that to exist, and so ASTV thrives.

I totally agree. I haven't put a lot of effort into it, but I've never found a media source in Thailand that is even CLOSE to "neutral". It seems anytime a media outlet tries to be neutral, they're usually run out of business by people who's interests aren't served by that outlet.

The "red shirts" have the exact same problem as the team wearing yellow. They've got "leaders" who have interests that are well removed from "the good of the Thai people". Pretty sad commentary on the political/social system when the only counter to a violent, weapon-toting, foaming at the mouth, street mob is ANOTHER mob wearing different coloured t-shirts.

[PJack]

This country needs Fox News to educate them all !!

Somebody call Rupert Murdoch.

[MisterMatlock]

This country needs Fox News to educate them all !!

Somebody call Rupert Murdoch.

Fox News might actually be a step UP from the Thai channels...

[Ngairo]

I saw this article in the Bangkok Post and thought it interesting.

From a letter in the Bangkok Post:

Manipulating people

The techniques of brainwashing, indoctrination, manipulation of people have been studied in great detail since the publication in the year 1895 of La psychologie des foules (''The Crowd: A Study ot the Popular Mind'') by the French scholar Gustave le Bon. These techniques have been used successfully by dictators, politicians of all colours, religious leaders, warmongers, fan clubs and a large variety of interest groups, who either fight for a cause or against something that does not suit their agenda.

Your talking about Piant again....cricky ****....he's a moderator....not a manipulater.....now hang on...I just got that wrong......flip.......

[LakeGeneve]

The letter is just as applicable to those wearing red shirts, and watching NBT and other free TV stations.

ASTV has an audience because what is being broadcast on Channels 3 through 11 is just as full of falsehoods and just as designed to manipulate.

It is so patently propagandistic that people are willing to believe the direct opposite.

If there were a free television station broadcasting news with the overriding goal of being fair in its reporting, presentation and analysis, then ASTV would not be as successful as it is.

Unfortunately, the government does not permit that to exist, and so ASTV thrives.

I totally agree. I haven't put a lot of effort into it, but I've never found a media source in Thailand that is even CLOSE to "neutral". It seems anytime a media outlet tries to be neutral, they're usually run out of business by people who's interests aren't served by that outlet.

The "red shirts" have the exact same problem as the team wearing yellow. They've got "leaders" who have interests that are well removed from "the good of the Thai people". Pretty sad commentary on the political/social system when the only counter to a violent, weapon-toting, foaming at the mouth, street mob is ANOTHER mob wearing different coloured t-shirts.

Good to see the Post publishing a decent letter. Reminds me of a book I read discussing CIA strategies with political movements in latin america in the 60s and 70s. I would guess the same was done here in thailand to an extent during the vietnam war and with the communists? Maybe Manfred in scenic, quiet Mukdahan could go a Phd on the current abysmal state of the thai eletronic media from the time of 2003/4 when the then govt really started putting the pressure on editors with late night calls and threats.

To add to Loburts view one would hope that at some stage the armed forces would be constitutionally banned from running a media outlet except their onw internal print.

I get ASTV on the cable and flick onto it to see what is happening. I am always amazed that people can sit there for hours and hours listening to all the speakers. At times it seems that the same old granny is always shown clapping. On the english news ASTV channel there is one good political analyst who does some decent interviews with academics including critical PAD views but the rest of the english speaking thai commentators are all fluff.

The same slogans are repeated again and again, so as to make them appear the unquestionable, absolute truth. Questions are not asked, discussions do not take place. Those up there on the stage, the leaders, do not want to be questioned; questions lead to divisions.

The further scenario: once a crowd has been sufficiently ''conditioned'', the individual ceases to exist. He or she has been swallowed up by a dehumanised monster, the mob. And then, those up there, the manipulators, have an obedient tool which they can use for whatever purpose they choose.

Sounds like a normal corporate strategy to me. Perhaps a LV or Armani advertising campaign. Have not advertisers been using these same principles for years to get people obsessed about buying expensive crap?

FOX news is a great mention as they seem to have taken propoganda with their "No Spin news" to a scary level. Fascinating stuff to watch if you can handle watching the moronic presenters.

[MisterMatlock]

The letter is just as applicable to those wearing red shirts, and watching NBT and other free TV stations.

ASTV has an audience because what is being broadcast on Channels 3 through 11 is just as full of falsehoods and just as designed to manipulate.

It is so patently propagandistic that people are willing to believe the direct opposite.

If there were a free television station broadcasting news with the overriding goal of being fair in its reporting, presentation and analysis, then ASTV would not be as successful as it is.

Unfortunately, the government does not permit that to exist, and so ASTV thrives.

I totally agree. I haven't put a lot of effort into it, but I've never found a media source in Thailand that is even CLOSE to "neutral". It seems anytime a media outlet tries to be neutral, they're usually run out of business by people who's interests aren't served by that outlet.

The "red shirts" have the exact same problem as the team wearing yellow. They've got "leaders" who have interests that are well removed from "the good of the Thai people". Pretty sad commentary on the political/social system when the only counter to a violent, weapon-toting, foaming at the mouth, street mob is ANOTHER mob wearing different coloured t-shirts.

Good to see the Post publishing a decent letter. Reminds me of a book I read discussing CIA strategies with political movements in latin america in the 60s and 70s. I would guess the same was done here in thailand to an extent during the vietnam war and with the communists? Maybe Manfred in scenic, quiet Mukdahan could go a Phd on the current abysmal state of the thai eletronic media from the time of 2003/4 when the then govt really started putting the pressure on editors with late night calls and threats.

To add to Loburts view one would hope that at some stage the armed forces would be constitutionally banned from running a media outlet except their onw internal print.

I get ASTV on the cable and flick onto it to see what is happening. I am always amazed that people can sit there for hours and hours listening to all the speakers. At times it seems that the same old granny is always shown clapping. On the english news ASTV channel there is one good political analyst who does some decent interviews with academics including critical PAD views but the rest of the english speaking thai commentators are all fluff.

The same slogans are repeated again and again, so as to make them appear the unquestionable, absolute truth. Questions are not asked, discussions do not take place. Those up there on the stage, the leaders, do not want to be questioned; questions lead to divisions.

The further scenario: once a crowd has been sufficiently ''conditioned'', the individual ceases to exist. He or she has been swallowed up by a dehumanised monster, the mob. And then, those up there, the manipulators, have an obedient tool which they can use for whatever purpose they choose.

Sounds like a normal corporate strategy to me. Perhaps a LV or Armani advertising campaign. Have not advertisers been using these same principles for years to get people obsessed about buying expensive crap?

FOX news is a great mention as they seem to have taken propoganda with their "No Spin news" to a scary level. Fascinating stuff to watch if you can handle watching the moronic presenters.

Certainly. I actually thought of marketing/advertising when I copy and pasted this article here. How many people from the west wouldn't know Nike's slogan from the 1990's? *laugh* If you pound the same motto/ideal/moral/propaganda over and over and over into someone's ears/eyes, it certainly will take root and "blossom".