He might not. But things will be in his favor if you go in thinking knowing physics and science will make you impervious to the dark arts, without knowing a lot about psychology, cult and influence techniques and the messier stuff inside your own head.
(I’m not sure if you want to say something extra here by quoting a thing that was described as the “second most dangerous dark side meme” in the linked comment.)
But things will be in his favor if you go in thinking knowing physics and science will make you impervious to the dark arts, without knowing a lot about psychology, cult and influence techniques and the messier stuff inside your own head.
I wonder about this idea that knowing how someone will be manipulating you is any defense at all from being manipulated by that person. It sounds plausible, but is there any evidence at all that knowledge can have this affect?
Or is knowledge not wholly intellectual, and can be considered a species of manipulation, but not manipulation of the dark arts variety. Maybe even “light arts manipulation”? Sorry, had to throw this last paragraph in there because I thought it was interesting.
Compare “I’ve only known this guy for half an hour, but he seems really likable” and “I’ve only known this guy for half an hour, he’s been running through the tricks from the cult salesman playbook and is giving off a real likable impression at this point”.
You still need to have your own head game in order to actually counteract the subconscious impressions you are getting, but it will probably help to know that a contest is even happening.
I think what you say is plausible. But I also think that it is also plausible that a “likable impression” isn’t just an appearance, but the effect of you actually starting to like the guy. I think that’s the sort of thing that concerns me, that at a certain point our social instincts take over and we lose the ability to detach ourselves from the situation.
That’s a valid point. Women who have read about the pickup artist techniques report that the techniques still work on them even when they’re aware the person is using them. On the other hand, SWIM says that being aware of various techniques has helped him guard against HR methods on the basis of “Oh, now he’s moving into stage x, next he’s going to...”. SWIM would say that it depends to what degree you’re predisposed against the person using them.
Be aware that some techinques are more obvious than others. Some are really obvious when you know they exist, but also really obscure, so you won’t know they’re being used unless you’ve read about it before.
Interesting. My intuition and experience say this is screamingly, overtly incorrect. The fact that yours do not means I’m probably wrong—either about the ‘overtly’ or the ‘incorrect’!
In other words “don’t try to argue with the devil^H^H Scientologist—he has more experience at it than you”.
He might not. But things will be in his favor if you go in thinking knowing physics and science will make you impervious to the dark arts, without knowing a lot about psychology, cult and influence techniques and the messier stuff inside your own head.
(I’m not sure if you want to say something extra here by quoting a thing that was described as the “second most dangerous dark side meme” in the linked comment.)
I do believe you’ve nailed it. Well done, sir.
I wonder about this idea that knowing how someone will be manipulating you is any defense at all from being manipulated by that person. It sounds plausible, but is there any evidence at all that knowledge can have this affect?
Or is knowledge not wholly intellectual, and can be considered a species of manipulation, but not manipulation of the dark arts variety. Maybe even “light arts manipulation”? Sorry, had to throw this last paragraph in there because I thought it was interesting.
Compare “I’ve only known this guy for half an hour, but he seems really likable” and “I’ve only known this guy for half an hour, he’s been running through the tricks from the cult salesman playbook and is giving off a real likable impression at this point”.
You still need to have your own head game in order to actually counteract the subconscious impressions you are getting, but it will probably help to know that a contest is even happening.
I think what you say is plausible. But I also think that it is also plausible that a “likable impression” isn’t just an appearance, but the effect of you actually starting to like the guy. I think that’s the sort of thing that concerns me, that at a certain point our social instincts take over and we lose the ability to detach ourselves from the situation.
That’s a valid point. Women who have read about the pickup artist techniques report that the techniques still work on them even when they’re aware the person is using them. On the other hand, SWIM says that being aware of various techniques has helped him guard against HR methods on the basis of “Oh, now he’s moving into stage x, next he’s going to...”. SWIM would say that it depends to what degree you’re predisposed against the person using them.
Be aware that some techinques are more obvious than others. Some are really obvious when you know they exist, but also really obscure, so you won’t know they’re being used unless you’ve read about it before.
Interesting. My intuition and experience say this is screamingly, overtly incorrect. The fact that yours do not means I’m probably wrong—either about the ‘overtly’ or the ‘incorrect’!