John said,
>It just isn't true, Joe, I'm afraid. People "get changed" by other people
>without permission (and, often, without knowing it) all the time! That's
>how terrible things like Nazi Germany and South African apartheid happen!
>That's how "mob rule" can take over people at times and result in
>individuals doing things that are counter even to their most deeply held
>moral values. On a slightly more benign scale, it's fundamentally the
>basis of advertising. Did you consciously choose to remember the "hold
>the pickles, hold the lettuce" Burger King jingle -- or did it happen to
>you?
Joe replied,
>John, Nazi Germany and South African apartheid happen because some people
>either wanted it or didn't have the courage to act. I don't believe that
>it happened because of 'mob rule'. We know that even if people are
>infected whil a part of a 'mob' it doesn't last forever. They do break
>free and then after what may be a first, impuslive, action -- they
>actually think and make a decision whether or not to continue the action.
>There is a difference between acting on an occasional (or more freqwuently
>when it comes to chocolate) than making a decision to support openly
>anything or make a change in my thinking -- maybe those in Germany and So.
>Africa were operating on their values.
>As for the pickles. -- Jingles, colors, etc do catch our eyes and ears
>and thinking. And there are many products I find close to repulsive that
>their jingles and creative ads capture my thoughts and attention. -- Yet,
>the big mac and mac's fries are still my pick(les)!
I am afraid I have to agree with John, and I appreciate his use of
examples which illustrate how important it is to realize that we can be
influenced by others without being aware of it. I have studied cults and
how they draw people in, and one of the things they can do is use our own
intelligence against us by having clever responses for all of our
arguments. I believe that, when we are convinced we cannot be fooled,
that is when we are most vulnerable.
Genene Koebelin
--koebelin <koebelin@MCI2000.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>