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Vanity: The Power of Incremental Concessions
Vanity

Posted on 06/15/2020 12:44:27 PM PDT by TigerClaws

This is an interesting thread on how small compliance leads to complete ideological domination.

It was shared by a guy on Twitter identified below. Please comment if you've studied the subject of compliance.

Why statues? Why the social media 'wokeness'? Explained below.

Zero HP Lovecraft @0x49fa98 · 21h The Chinese were very effective in getting Americans to inform on one another, in contrast to the behavior of American POWs in WWII. For this reason, escape plans were quickly uncovered and escape attempts themselves were rarely successful.

When an escape did occur, the Chinese usually recovered the man easily by offering a mere bag of rice to anyone turning him in. In fact, nearly all American prisoners in the Chinese camps are said to have collaborated with the enemy in one form or another.

How did the Chinese get compliance from the American POWS? These men were trained to provide only name, rank, serial number. Short of torture, how could the captors hope to get such men to give military information, turn in fellow prisoners, or publicly denounce their country?

The Chinese answer was to start small and build. Prisoners were asked to make statements so mildly anti-American or pro-Communist as to seem inconsequential "The United States is not perfect." "In a Communist country, unemployment is not a problem."

Once they complied with these minor requests, the men were pushed to submit to more substantive ones. A man who had agreed that the United States is not perfect might be asked provide examples. He might then be asked to make a list of "problems with America" and sign his name

Later, he might be asked to read his list in a discussion group with other prisoners. “After all, it’s what you really believe, isn’t it?” Still later he might be asked to write an essay expanding on his list and discussing these problems in greater detail

The Chinese might then use his name and his essay in an anti-American radio broadcast beamed not only to the entire camp, but to other POW camps in North Korea, as well as to American forces in South Korea.

Suddenly he would find himself a "collaborator." Aware that he had written the essay without any threats or coercion, a man would change his image of himself to be consistent with the deed and with the new collaborator label, resulting in more extensive acts of collaboration

The majority collaborated by doing things which seemed trivial to them but which the Chinese were able to turn to their own advantage. This was particularly effective in eliciting confessions, self-criticism, and information during interrogation.

The majority of the men believed the Chinese story that the United States had used germ warfare, and many felt that their own forces had been the initial aggressors in starting the war. Similar inroads had been made in the political attitudes of the men:

Many expressed antipathy toward the Chinese Communists but at the same time praised them for "the fine job they have done in China." Others stated that "although communism won’t work in America, I think it’s a good thing for Asia."

Our best evidence of another man's true feelings and beliefs is their behavior, not their words. What the Chinese knew is that a man uses this same evidence to know what he himself is like. He observes his behavior to understand his own beliefs, values, and attitudes

Writing was one type of confirming action that the Chinese urged incessantly upon their prisoners. It was never enough to listen quietly or even to agree verbally; they were always pushed to write it down as well. Psychologist Edgar Schein describes this tactic:

A further technique was to have the man write out the question and then the [pro-Communist] answer. If he refused to write it voluntarily, he was asked to copy it from the notebooks, which must have seemed like a harmless enough concession. But, oh, those "harmless" concessions.

Seemingly trifling commitments can lead to extraordinary further behavior. A written declaration is physical evidence of your commitment, leaving no opportunity to forget or to deny what you have done. The irrevocably documented act drives you to make your self-image consistent

We tend to think that a statement reflects the true attitude of the person who made it, even if we know the person did not freely choose to make it. Unless there is strong evidence to the contrary, observers automatically assume that someone who makes a statement means it

Think of the double-barreled effects on the self-image of a prisoner who wrote a pro-Chinese or anti-American statement. Not only was it a lasting personal reminder of his action, it was also likely to persuade those around him that the statement reflected his actual beliefs.

A similar technique involved political essay contests that were regularly held in camp. The prizes for winning were invariably small--a few cigarettes or a bit of fruit--but were sufficiently scarce that they generated interest from the men

Usually the winning essays took a pro-Communist stand, but not always. Most prisoners would not want to enter a contest that required writing a Communist tract. So the prize was sometimes given to essays that supported the USA but made small concessions to the Chinese view

The men participated voluntarily in the contests because they saw that they could win with an essay favorable to their own country. But perhaps without realizing it, they began to shade their essays a bit toward communism in order to have a better chance of winning.

The Chinese wanted as many Americans as possible to enter these contests so that, in the process, they might write things favorable to the Communist view. If, however, the idea was to attract large numbers of entrants, why were the prizes so small?

They chose to employ the smaller rewards because they wanted the men to own what they had done. No excuses, no ways out were allowed. A prisoner who salted his political essay with a few anti-American comments could not be permitted to shrug it off as motivated by a big reward.

It was not enough to wring commitments out of their men; those men had to be made to take inner responsibility for their actions. We accept inner responsibility for a behavior when we think we have chosen to perform it in the absence of strong outside pressures

The big things to understand here are 1) when you see yourself doing something, you change your self-image to include "I am a person who does that thing" 2) when you think others see you a certain way, the same. 3) you will act in ways that are consistent with your self-image

So in light of that, please consider how being a user of Social Media, especially real-name social media, is structurally identical to being a prisoner in a Chinese POW camp during the Korean war.

When you endorse a cause on social media, the rewards are worthless. Tiny rewards mean that you will not perceive your statements as being coerced, you will own them. And yet, the public eye puts pressure on you to say things that are pro-social in a very particular way

Most people want to appear compassionate. A political slogan, a bleeding heart story, these things that you spread virally, they change your self-image. And they leave you with evidence, public evidence, that you are the kind of person who speaks out about "systemic oppression"

Social media created the feedback loop that drove everyone mad with social justice. Just like in the Chinese camp, the subtle but constant pressure to make cheap moralistic statements resulted in mass conversions. I believe this is the true cause of the "great awokening"


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KEYWORDS: belongsinchat; getajob; notnews; vanity
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1 posted on 06/15/2020 12:44:27 PM PDT by TigerClaws
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To: TigerClaws

Dems are smarter than we are.

They play the long game.

For us it’s 100% or nothing.

So we lost the war for America.


2 posted on 06/15/2020 12:46:20 PM PDT by NoLibZone (BLM Ltd. Concern is limited to those black lives that can be used to generate revenue and power.)
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To: TigerClaws

Well either Trump will win again or he hastened the civil war by decades maybe.

Or both.

We owe him for making us see how many are actually against the constitution and against us.

And boy are there a lot.

With msm as a wing of the dem party, I think no dem that wins a seat should be recognized by us.

Especially the presidency.

I also think that regardless of who wins there will still be violence and perhaps an all out war will come.

Better now than 20 years from now when another generation is brainwashed.


3 posted on 06/15/2020 12:50:30 PM PDT by dp0622 (The very future of tis she the onehe Republic is at stake. We now know dems will do ANYTHING to win.)
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To: TigerClaws

Yes, and I feel there’s a corollary to this regarding repeating of other people’s slogans. Take the nature of the slogan “Black Lives Matter.” Out of context, its a simple statement.

But I’ve been asked - so why won’t you say it?

And I say - I don’t repeat other people’s slogans, as it means I’m allowing others to do my thinking for me. words affect the structure of reality.

The Reply I get is: Perhaps - but there’s nothing wrong with the slogan. its true, isn’t it?

To which I say: OK, but first, you must repeat a similarly simple slogan I give to you. Ready? It is “Make America Great Again.”

At that point, they either laugh, or I get a “F*** You!”


4 posted on 06/15/2020 12:54:44 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: TigerClaws


We are such idiots. We deserve what we get.

A lot of us see it all happening and don't do enough about it.

But a lot of those around us already have their frogs fully cooked and have bought in completely.
5 posted on 06/15/2020 12:56:25 PM PDT by z3n
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To: TigerClaws
This is how bribes are done in the United States too. It's why ethical newspapers don't allow reporters to accept even as much as a cup of coffee. First it's the coffee. Then a small pastry... Then a book or a favor... then tickets to a concert...then money. Big money. And it's over.

People who do government inspections are set up with small bribes first - same with other government workers. It all leads up to getting $5,000 a minute for 'speeches' given to Arabs. A la Hillary - then compromised crooks changing laws so their 'bribes' become 'legal'...

Yes, the Chinese did this... but the technique's as old as time and evil.

If you read a story about a person arrested for taking a $10,000 bribe it's NOT his first. No one starts at the $10,000 level...

The first time a man's unfaithful to his wife he sweats the first kiss... later he won't give two thoughts to being unfaithful. Incremental degradation of the soul... wait 'til you see the end result of the concessions to black lives matter...

6 posted on 06/15/2020 12:59:04 PM PDT by GOPJ (When blacks kill each other it's called 'gun violence'. When cops kill a black, it's called 'murder')
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To: TwelveOfTwenty
Ping. Here is an example of how constant pressure and propaganda combine to get people to adopt ideas which the government wants them to adopt.
7 posted on 06/15/2020 1:00:34 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: z3n

Hey Froggie, Jump on the handle and spill all the boiling water onto your captor.


8 posted on 06/15/2020 1:09:02 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
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To: TigerClaws

[This is an interesting thread on how small compliance leads to complete ideological domination.

It was shared by a guy on Twitter identified below. Please comment if you’ve studied the subject of compliance. ]


I’m skeptical. The Chinese starved recalcitrant Americans to death. A higher % of American POW’s died in Chinese custody than under Imperial Japan. It was, IMO, the #1 reason Eisenhower should have bombed and strafed Chinese forces across the Yalu river - to deny supplies to the Chinese military and roll up their entire army on the Korean peninsula.


9 posted on 06/15/2020 1:11:52 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: TigerClaws
MUST-READ

Thought provoking article.

11 posted on 06/15/2020 1:12:57 PM PDT by Pajamajan ( Pray for our nation. Thank the Lord for everything you haave. Don't wait. Do it today.)
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To: NoLibZone

Its because we are open about goals, the left isnt

because if they were open about them no one would support them

so they need to get there slowly, incrementally


12 posted on 06/15/2020 1:25:56 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: TigerClaws

its like being tempted by satan

if he just comes out and says he wants all people to suffer and die the vast majority will not join him

but if he does it incrementally and doesnt say his end goal, people happily join in


13 posted on 06/15/2020 1:27:28 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: TigerClaws

One of the better vanities, really makes one think and take a hard look at where we’re going. Thanks for posting.


14 posted on 06/15/2020 3:05:55 PM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: TigerClaws

Exactly. That’s how we got here: all of those “The conservative case for ...” articles.


15 posted on 06/15/2020 5:20:46 PM PDT by evilC
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To: DiogenesLamp

I’m taking this back to the other thread where it belongs.


16 posted on 06/16/2020 4:33:59 AM PDT by TwelveOfTwenty (Prayers for our country and President Trump)
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To: TwelveOfTwenty
I’m taking this back to the other thread where it belongs.

Did you grasp the primary point of this thread? That forcing small concessions can eventually get people to concede everything?

Pressure works. Especially government pressure with threat of jailing if you disagree.

17 posted on 06/16/2020 11:18:44 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp
I'm also taking this back to the other thread where it belongs.
18 posted on 06/16/2020 5:28:25 PM PDT by TwelveOfTwenty (Prayers for our country and President Trump)
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To: TwelveOfTwenty
This thread is about how effective manipulations of opinion are. It seems reasonable to discuss examples of that same phenomena here.
19 posted on 06/16/2020 7:19:14 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp
This thread is about how effective manipulations of opinion are.

If it's any consolation, your confederacy apologetics have done nothing to convince me of anything.

20 posted on 06/18/2020 4:17:16 AM PDT by TwelveOfTwenty (Prayers for our country and President Trump)
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