Posting blind:
A day or two ago, someone on FR posted on a Coronavirus presser that those of us who don’t believe it is serious should note the president’s change in tone.
Today there was mention of the president noting his change in tone saying that people preferred it.
This detail reminds me of an old lecture I attended for U.S. History. The subject of riots and panic came up and the prof asked, “How do you talk to a mob.” That was one of those times you try not to get called on in class....
He first asked, do you try reason in a steady tone of voice, showing that you are calm and they can be too? Many of us went for that.
He said that would fail because the mob would think you don’t know or refuse to acknowledge reality, that’s you are less patriotic or are selfish (i.e., you aren’t one of them). He said you jump in shouting, your voice as loud as theirs, your facial expression as animated as theirs, so they accept you as understanding the issue and oriented to reality (you become one of them). As you talk, you lighten your voice gradually, inserting reason in a back handed way to get past their fear and help them focus.
I think the MSM Deep State complex was winning the info war in that it was creating panic so successfully that the public was hearing them say, “Look the president is detached from reality! He won’t even admit the obvious!!!” and responding with greater fear.
I believe the president “entered the conversation” re coronavirus with the same tone as those panicking and they find that very reassuring. It’s a double bind because his change in demeanor can convince the already calm that they should become more concerned. I think that’s why he called attention to his own change in tone - he said “people like it”. That’s his reason for his increased solemnity; people like it. That’s our POTUS, responding to the will of the people, and once again beating the deep state at what it does best.