In some circumstances, it can be hard to change people’s minds. In others, it can be way too easy. For example, look at bullying in schools: a large number of people somehow come to agree on bullying a certain set of targets, even when they probably would never be so cruel on their own. Or look at political propaganda, when given by a trusted source and decked out in applause-lights-inducing standard rhetoric—preaching a slightly new message to the choir. In both cases, the people being persuaded just weren’t adequately defending themselves from the influence of the people around them.
An obvious example of a case where it’s hard to hack somebody’s mind is trying to get someone to stop being racist. That’s hard; it’s easier to get them to stop being racist in public, by making them ashamed of it.
So, sure, the Dark Arts are not all-powerful, but they’re not weak either. And they are always creepy.
In some circumstances, it can be hard to change people’s minds. In others, it can be way too easy. For example, look at bullying in schools: a large number of people somehow come to agree on bullying a certain set of targets, even when they probably would never be so cruel on their own. Or look at political propaganda, when given by a trusted source and decked out in applause-lights-inducing standard rhetoric—preaching a slightly new message to the choir. In both cases, the people being persuaded just weren’t adequately defending themselves from the influence of the people around them.
An obvious example of a case where it’s hard to hack somebody’s mind is trying to get someone to stop being racist. That’s hard; it’s easier to get them to stop being racist in public, by making them ashamed of it.
So, sure, the Dark Arts are not all-powerful, but they’re not weak either. And they are always creepy.