I echo the objections to a lack of evidence. The story, while good, remains fictional evidence, and Harry’s ability to threaten people effectively is extremely context-dependent. From what I recall, most of his threats are against people over whom he has some significant power (usually the ability to divulge information), who care significantly about his own interests independent of the threat, who at least partially agree with his underlying reasoning, and whom generally will not have their affinity for him lowered by the use of such threats.
It does make intuitive sense that threats would work in this context—these people often want to do what they are being coerced to do, at least in part. It does not follow that threats generally work in any other context.
Yeah, that’s why I’m not sure I buy lionhearted’s claim that his threats “worked”. Of course threats “work” in the sense that they might get what you want in that moment. The reason people don’t use them more often is that it generates resentment in the target of the threat, which will lead them to decrease their positive interaction with you in the hopes of avoiding being in such a position again.
So maybe lionhearted got what he wanted in the very short term, but what about longer-term effects? Should I take his experience to mean that mugging my friends would be a good idea? (Mugging in the sense of armed robbery of a pedestrian, not making out.)
I echo the objections to a lack of evidence. The story, while good, remains fictional evidence, and Harry’s ability to threaten people effectively is extremely context-dependent. From what I recall, most of his threats are against people over whom he has some significant power (usually the ability to divulge information), who care significantly about his own interests independent of the threat, who at least partially agree with his underlying reasoning, and whom generally will not have their affinity for him lowered by the use of such threats.
It does make intuitive sense that threats would work in this context—these people often want to do what they are being coerced to do, at least in part. It does not follow that threats generally work in any other context.
The story is cited only as having drawn attention to the hypothesis, which was supported by the non-fictional personal experience.
Wow. Harry must be good at finding suckers.
Yeah, that’s why I’m not sure I buy lionhearted’s claim that his threats “worked”. Of course threats “work” in the sense that they might get what you want in that moment. The reason people don’t use them more often is that it generates resentment in the target of the threat, which will lead them to decrease their positive interaction with you in the hopes of avoiding being in such a position again.
So maybe lionhearted got what he wanted in the very short term, but what about longer-term effects? Should I take his experience to mean that mugging my friends would be a good idea? (Mugging in the sense of armed robbery of a pedestrian, not making out.)
Where ‘positive interaction’ includes ‘not shooting you in the back of the head whenever it happens to be convenient’.
Well, that sense too now that you mention it. :)